The third accused person in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa, has released scathing evidence in support of his application asking the High Court to strike out the case against him instituted by the Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame.
He said the Mr Dame repeatedly assured him that he was “not the target of the prosecution.”
On Thursday, May 30, the third accused through his lawyers, Sory @ Law, filed an application for the court to strike out the case against him. This means that all charges against him will be dropped should the application succeed.
Mr Jakpa has pledged to defend his testimony in support of his application in court on oath and be cross-examined on the same.
Included in his testimony is the allegations against the state’s chief prosecutor and the leader of Ghana’s Bar, Mr Dame.
The accused person revealed that Mr Dame sought his assistance to incriminate the first accused, Dr Ato Forson, a former Finance Minister and leader of the Minority caucus in Parliament.
The prosecution claims Dr. Ato Forson issued letters of credit without authorization from his then-boss, Finance Minister Seth Terkper.
However, Mr. Terkper testified in court that he did indeed authorize Dr. Ato Forson to establish the letters of credit.
Despite this testimony, the case continued, with the third accused, Richard Jakpa, currently being cross-examined.
“Hon. Dame also explained to me that the first accused’s prosecution had to be undertaken because of pressure from the former Minister for Finance [Dr. Ken Ofori Atta and the President] and assured me repeatedly that I was not the target of the prosecution,” Mr Jakpa stated in court documents.
Additionally, he indicated that Mr Dame after listening to him during one of their engagements, further assured him that he (Godfred Dame) “now appreciated the facts and issues relating to the transaction and indicated to me that in law, agents are not liable for the acts of their principals.”
Armed with these details Mr Jakpa asked the Attorney-General to file a nolle prosequi to discontinue the proceedings against him, as in the case of the second accused, Sylvester Anemana.
“Hon, Dame answered that it will then leave only the first accused which will make it even more obvious that the first accused is the target of the prosecution,” Mr Jakpa stated in his affidavit.
Meanwhile, the third accused is praying the court to grant Mr Dame the opportunity to orally challenge his testimony against him on oath on the day his application is heard.
