The High Court in Accra has admitted into evidence the complete WhatsApp messages exchanged between Richard Jakpa, the third accused, and Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
This decision was announced by trial judge Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, who underscored that the court had previously admitted portions of the WhatsApp chats from the third accused and could not reject what the prosecution termed as the entire conversation.
Justice Asare-Botwe emphasized that while the court has admitted the full messages, it retains the discretion to assess the weight and relevance of this evidence.
This point was particularly pertinent as the defense raised concerns over the authenticity and completeness of the messages presented by the prosecution.
During the court proceedings on Tuesday, June 18, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa highlighted the volume of messages sent by Mr. Jakpa compared to the limited responses from the Attorney-General.
The DPP argued for the admission of all of Mr. Jakpa’s WhatsApp messages to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the communications between the parties involved.
Mr. Jakpa, under cross-examination, admitted that he had initiated contact with the Attorney-General prior to the trial. He disclosed that he obtained Mr. Dame’s contact information through his cousin, Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi.
However, he also acknowledged that the messages presented in court did not encompass the entire conversation and were selectively chosen based on their relevance to his defense.
Counsel for Mr. Jakpa, Mr. Thaddeus Sory, raised objections to the DPP’s motion to submit the full WhatsApp conversation into evidence. He argued that the defense required additional time to thoroughly review the messages to ensure their accuracy and context.
Despite these objections, the court ruled in favor of admitting the full set of messages, reinforcing the importance of transparency and comprehensive evidence in the trial.
This ruling has introduced a new dimension to the high-profile case, as the court now has access to the complete communication between Mr. Jakpa and the Attorney-General.