The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted to the testimony of the third accused person in the ongoing trial of the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson; businessman Richard Jakpa, who has accused the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, of coercing him to testify against the minority leader.
Speaking to the media after the court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, said his party was not surprised by the Attorney General's actions and did not have kind words for him.
He accused the Attorney General of being a deceitful person who would do anything, including bending the law, to get what he wanted.
“We were shocked to the marrow when the third accused, under cross-examination, disclosed to the court that the Honourable Attorney General has been reaching out to him, calling him over the phone, that he has met with him in person. And that the Attorney General has been asking him to give false testimony to the court and skew his testimony in such a way that it would help the case of the Attorney General against Ato Forson so that he can be convicted and jailed.
“He said this in open court and asked that it should be put on record, and her ladyship also directed that the same should be captured… we as a political party are totally scandalised and disgusted by this development,” he said.
He added, “We are not surprised because we have always known that this is the stock-in-trade of Godfred Yeboah Dame. This is not a man who is interested in justice or the law; this is not a man who is an Attorney General and Minister of Justice, no. This is a devious character with no honour whatsoever, no respect for justice… who goes around manipulating the judicial process.”
Sammy Gyamfi also said that the fact that the Attorney General is able to coerce a witness into giving false testimony means he might be doing the same to judges, and his party would not sit idly and watch this happen.
Background:
Richard Jakpa accused the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, of attempting to collude with him to make a case against the majority leader.
Richard Jakpa, who is reported to have said during court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, by 3news.com, stated that the Attorney General called him at odd hours to get his cooperation.
He made these remarks when Dame accused him of protecting Ato Forson, threatening to reveal more if the Attorney General dares 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.
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.
The trial of the former deputy finance minister and the two others began on January 18, 2022, before the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge.
They have pleaded not guilty to the five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment of crime, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.
The state in March 2024 opted to discontinue the case against the former Chief Director at the Ministry, who is currently undergoing further care in India due to health complications.
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