Four influential persons who have blasted Godfred Dame after Ato Forson, Jakpa acquittal

The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, has faced backlash following the Court of Appeal's verdict in the controversial ambulance procurement case.

On Tuesday, the Appeals Court acquitted and discharged Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa, who were accused of causing financial loss to the state in the procurement of ambulances.

The criticism intensified after Godfred Dame described the Appeals Court’s judgment as "perverse," "grossly unfair," and "erroneous."

Here are four notable figures who have lambasted him:

1. John Dramani Mahama

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama took a swipe at Godfred Dame.

Mahama accused Dame of acting like a legal representative of the New Patriotic Party rather than conducting himself as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General.

“I think that this Attorney-General has been discredited enough. Anywhere in the world, with the things we have seen, the coaching of witnesses, and discussions with witnesses, this prosecution would have been struck out as malicious prosecution.

“I believe this prosecution is malicious. He is not as robust and energetic in pursuing other cases. Even as we speak, there is an ambulance case involving this present administration which is hugely larger than what he is prosecuting, and yet he has no interest in that.”

“He is like a legal representative of the NPP party, over-enthusiastic in pursuing political opponents. I have said that when we come it will be the reverse, we will pursue accountability for the regime that has gone out but at the same time if any of our people are involved in the same things that has happened, for which we are prosecuting the previous government, we will prosecute them too.

“So I think that the A-G is also the Minister of Justice, he forgets that, he thinks he is just the A-G,” Mahama said in an interview with TV3 as quoted by 3news.com.

2. Sammy Gyamfi

The NDC’s National Communication Officer accused Dame of pursuing political goals rather than justice.

He labeled Dame as the ‘worst AG’ in the history of Ghana, highlighting his cautioning by the trial court to stay away from a matter he was prosecuting, calling it a “disgraceful” moment for the Attorney-General.

“To further prove the malice of Godfred Dame in this whole matter is the fact that he didn’t have the decency and the patience to wait for the ruling of the Court of Appeal before issuing that ‘useless’ press statement.

“So, at the time he was describing the decision as inimical to the national interest, he didn’t even have the benefit of reasoning that went into the court of appeal’s decision,” citinewsoroom.com quoted him to have said.

3. Saviour Kudze (GBA PRO)

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Saviour Kudze, criticized the Minister of Justice's choice of words.

He questioned whether Dame would have used such language if the decision had been in his favour.

“Assuming the decisions were made in his favour, would he be using such words? He [Attorney-General] is the leader of the Bar. We shouldn’t expect him to be using such words.

“You could say you disagree with the verdict of the court and you will take steps. I think that is what everybody does. But an official leader using such words, we take an exception to it,” Kudze said.

4. Felix Ofosu Kwakye

Felix Ofosu Kwakye, a former Deputy Minister of Communications, also criticized Godfred Dame.

In a social media post, he accused the minister stating, “Godfred Dame's wickedness suffers a crushing blow and the Minority Leader stands a free man!”

Godfred Dame's wickedness suffers a crushing blow and the Minority Leader stands a free man! pic.twitter.com/kAtAz24CJq

— Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) July 30, 2024

AM/EK

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