The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disclosed what the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, told Richard Jakpa, the third accused person at the residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi.
This comes on the back of a testimony given by Jakpa in court that the A-G had attempted to cajole him to falsify his testimony against the first accused, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.
In the NDC’s quest to present what it described as incontrovertible evidence to prove that there was indeed an engagement between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, the NPP preempted the supposed evidence, and came out that there was a meeting where the A-G was invited by a Supreme Court judge to his residence which he honoured out of courtesy without knowing Jakpa was even present.
After the NDC’s press conference which failed to mention any meeting between the two at the judge’s residence, the NPP, however, in its counter press conference, addressed the meeting at the judge’s house, and explained the conversation that ensued between the A-G and Jakpa.
Frank Davies, a leading member of the NPP and private legal practitioner, addressing the press Tuesday, May 28, 2024, indicated that the A-G told Mr. Jakpa to be loyal with the transaction records which were already on record in court, “since the charges principally focus on the public officials through whose actions the loss was occasioned.”
“Again, the Attorney General at the time of the invitation was unaware that the 3rd Accused person was going to be present and therefore his subsequent appearance in the house of the Justice was surprising. It is pertinent to note, that prior to this meeting, the Attorney General had closed his case and the Court had thrown out the application of Ato Forson as being without merit.
“The 3rd accused had also by four different letters by his lawyers, requested and made proposals to the Attorney General for a Plea Bargain which would see Big Sea General, 3rd accused’s principal pay 2million Euros in exchange for the cessation of prosecution. This had been roundly rejected by the Attorney General. In fact, 3rd Accused through his lawyers in the letter dated 16th May, 2023 had indicated unequivocally that they were requesting a Plea Bargain and following the rejection had requested the AG for terms which the AG will consider acceptable.
“The Supreme Court Judge therefore sought to enquire whether there was room for a Plea Bargain and the AG highlighted that he was not opposed provided it was made in proper form and assured 3rd accused that he had nothing personally against any of the accused persons. The AG further requested that since the charges principally focus on the public officials through whose actions the loss was occasioned, Richard Jakpa should show fidelity to the transaction records which were already on record,” Frank Davies disclosed to the media.
Content by: Felix Anim-Appau
