NDC, NPP sharply divide over Jakpa, Dame audio
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are sharply divided over Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame’s recorded conversations with Mr Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the trial concerning the ambulance procurement case. While the NDC is demanding the dismissal and prosecution of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the NPP strongly opposes this call, describing it as misplaced and asserting that Mr. Dame’s credibility remains unblemished.
The two parties presented their positions at separate press conferences in Accra yesterday.
The NDC, led by its General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, was the first to brief the media.
He declared that a future NDC government would prosecute the current Attorney-General, Mr Dame, for alleged professional misconduct in the ongoing ambulance purchase case if he is not sanctioned.
He asserted that his party has sufficient evidence to establish a criminal case against the Attorney-General, whom he described as unfit for office and should be disbarred.
“We are calling for the immediate prosecution of Dame for multiple violations of the laws of Ghana.
“Should President Akufo-Addo refuse or fail to prosecute him, a future NDC government will prosecute Dame for his heinous crime of fabricating evidence.
“Additionally, the General Legal Council should commence disciplinary proceedings against Mr Dame for conduct unbecoming of a lawyer and, more importantly, the leader of the Ghana Bar,” Mr Nketia stated.
This follows claims by the third accused, Mr Jakpa, that the Attorney-General had previously approached him to help build a case against the former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Mr Jakpa alleged in open court that the Attorney-General had engaged him at odd hours to incriminate the first accused and Minority Leader, Dr. Forson.
Spokespersons for Mr Dame and the Attorney-General’s office have denied the allegations, explaining that Mr Dame’s interactions with Mr Jakpa were lawful.
They emphasized that Mr Jakpa had repeatedly requested a plea bargain in exchange for the state dropping all charges against him and the other accused persons, but these requests were not accepted, and Mr Dame remained committed to ensuring a fair trial.
The NDC vehemently denied the claim of plea bargain.
“We want to state for the records that there have not been any plea bargain meetings between the Attorney-General and the 3rd Accused throughout this trial.”
“All the letters being circulated by the Attorney-General in the media dated 27th April 2023, 16th May 2023, 30th May 2023 and 12th June 2023, were proposals for amicable settlement and plea bargaining from Big Sea LLC and Mr. Jakpa,” Mr Nketia said.
To substantiate Mr Jakpa’s accusations, the NDC released a 16-minute audio recording allegedly capturing a conversation between Mr Jakpa and Mr Dame, in which the Attorney-General seemed to suggest that Jakpa should follow his line of argument to secure the conviction of Dr. Forson.
The party claimed this recording is the first of many pieces of evidence they would release subsequently.
In the recording, the Attorney-General is heard advising Mr Jakpa on the statements to present in court, specifically targeting Dr Forson.
The NDC also publicized supposed WhatsApp chats between Mr Jakpa and the Attorney-General.
The party argued that the conduct of Mr Dame, asking a witness to fabricate evidence, constitutes perjury and undermines the judicial justice administration process in Ghana.
Nketia asserted, “Godfred Dame violently violated the Legal Professional Code of Ethics Rule 2020 L.I 2423 in many ways. Professional misconduct by the Attorney-General, who bears a high responsibility to adhere to the rules of ethics of the legal profession, is reprehensible and unpardonable. ‘
The Minister of Justice fabricating evidence to prevent the cause of justice… The AG sought to undermine the justice administrative system of the country. This conduct constitutes the offense of perjury.”
The NDC maintains that it has more incriminating recordings of Mr Dame.
Dr. Forson is currently facing legal action for his alleged involvement in the procurement of defective ambulances for Ghana, accused of causing financial loss to the state amounting to €2.37 million.
Mr. Nketia stated that the party possesses more compelling evidence supporting Jakpa’s claims. “We have in our possession a series of recordings in which Mr Dame, is clearly heard goading, urging, impressing upon, and coaching Mr. Jakpa to bear false testimony against the Minority Leader, Dr. Forson.
All of this desperate subornation by Mr. Dame is just because he is hellbent on securing the incarceration of the Minority Leader,” Nketia added.
Two hours after the NDC press conference, the NPP mounted a spirited defense of Mr. Dame, asserting that his credibility remains unblemished despite accusations from the NDC.
The NPP accused the NDC of attempting to help Dr. Forson evade justice in the ambulance case.
The Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional Committee of the NPP, lawyer Frank Davies, who addressed the media, said accusations leveled against Mr. Dame are merely attempts to prevent him from holding Dr. Forson accountable.
He stressed that the claim that Dr. Forson was being prosecuted for being the Minority Leader was baseless and devoid of truth.
He stated that the law is blind to titles and political affiliations, and it is the duty of every citizen to uphold the law.
Mr. Davies further emphasized that the prosecution is solely based on the evidence at hand and not on Dr. Forson’s political standing.
He pointed out that the prosecution of Dr. Forson commenced even before he became Minority Leader, making the suggestion that he is being prosecuted because he is the Minority Leader of the NDC worthless and nonsensical.
He therefore dismissed calls for Mr Dame to resign.
“We are clear in our minds that the calls for the resignation of the Attorney General is misplaced, unwarranted and this would not put any spokes in the prosecution of Cassiel Ato Forson and his associates.”
NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) defended the Attorney General, stating that his credibility remains unblemished.
Nana B described the Attorney General as one of the most hardworking and intelligent in the Republic and dismissed the NDC’s allegations as manipulated facts.
He praised the Attorney General’s hard work and stated that no amount of shenanigans against him would suffice.
