Godfred Dame Defends Controversial Call To Jakpa As He Opens Up On Ambulance Case
Former Attorney-General Godfred Dame has clarified his involvement in the controversial ambulance procurement trial, stating that the secretly recorded phone call with businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the case, was the only conversation he had with him during the trial.
Addressing a press conference on February 14, Mr Dame insisted that his advice to Jakpa to obtain a medical report was not borne out of ill intent but rather a genuine suggestion in light of Jakpa’s health condition and his own tight schedule due to an international case he was handling.
“Not knowing he himself had that illicit agenda and was secretly recording and was saying the things that he got on the tape, which came from him and not from me,” Mr Dame stated.
The former Justice Minister explained that Mr Jakpa eventually secured an adjournment in court based on his health condition, reinforcing his argument that his advice was purely factual.
“When he went, he actually obtained the adjournment because he was not well. So the fact of my asking him to obtain a medical certificate because he was not well was nothing but factual,” he explained.
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The former A-G’s remarks come just days after Attorney-General Dominic Ayine announced the discontinuation of the controversial ambulance trial, a case that had drawn significant public and political attention.
Background
In May 2024, Richard Jakpa, under cross-examination, revealed that the then-Attorney General had been contacting him at unusual hours to solicit testimony against the then Minority Leader and now Finance Minister, Dr Ato Forson.
This revelation sparked discussions among Ghanaians, with some individuals calling for the resignation of the AG, Godfred Dame.
Dr Ato Forson was on trial for his alleged involvement in the procurement of defective ambulances for Ghana.
Credit: Kenneth Darko
