Richard Jakpa in court on Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing trial of Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has spoken out for the first time after he leaked his phone conversation with the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, whom he accused of coercion.
Speaking to the media at the Accra High Court on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Richard Jakpa said that he is "not afraid" of being attacked after the leakage of the phone conversation, as well as WhatsApp messages with the Attorney General.
He warned that anyone who would try to harm him should be prepared for the worst.
"I'm a governor in the jungle, so I'm not worried about the jungle business. I’m okay in the jungle. They can try; if they succeed, fine, but they must make sure they come up with professionals.
"If they bring amateurs, it will be a death sentence for them. But they should be bringing professionals if they really want to come after me. That is all," he cautioned.
Jakpa, who described himself as a man of principle, also stated that he has not had any interaction with Godfred Dame since he leaked the tape.
He also indicated that there has been no confrontation between him and Dame since the tape leaked.
"There's no need for face-to-face. We are doing everything in court. My lawyers will deal with this in court.
"There's nothing like face-to-face. It is an issue of evidence against evidence. You see, the game is about evidence," he said.
Background:
Richard Jakpa accused the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, of attempting to collude with him to make a case against the Majority Leader.
Jakpa claimed during court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, that the Attorney General called him at odd hours to get his cooperation.
He made these remarks when Dame accused him of protecting Cassiel Ato Forson, threatening to reveal more if the Attorney General dared him.
"The AG has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1, and I have evidence for that.
"If he pushes me, I will open Pandora's box. I don't understand why the AG would accuse me of defending A1 when I'm here to defend myself," the third accused is quoted as having said.
At a press conference in Accra, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the NDC played a 16-minute audio recording of a phone call conversation between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, on the day the third accused was supposed to testify in court.
In the recording, Dame is heard urging the third accused to testify in a manner that differs from an explanation given to him (Jakpa).
Before the AG's request, Jakpa explained that Ato Forson had done no wrong with the LCs he signed.
He could be heard telling the Attorney General that the contract was for the purchase of 200 vehicles with four LCs.
Godfred Dame then stated that the third accused should accept his explanation because it wouldn't cause him any harm.
However, Jakpa insisted that he could not grant Dame's request because there were letters that confirmed the arrangement in the contract.
Dame continued to ask Jakpa to accept his position because it would not cause him any problems, but the third accused insisted he was not going to say anything contrary to what he knew as the truth.
The Attorney General is also heard in the recording telling Jakpa to fabricate a medical excuse so that he could travel.
Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister for Finance; Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, and private businessman Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for allegedly wilfully causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health.
Watch Jakpa's remarks in the video below:
Businessman Richard Jakpa, third accused person in the ongoing ambulance case breaks his silence following his allegations against Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame... #GHOneNews #GHOneTV pic.twitter.com/ADHU3AiKS3
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) June 4, 2024
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