The third accused in the ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, has stated that he is undeterred by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame’s decision to appeal the Court of Appeal’s judgment that acquitted both him and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The Attorney-General has expressed intentions to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, Jakpa conveyed his readiness to face the Attorney-General in any court.
“I’m more than prepared, I’m always ready, if the Attorney-General wants to to go the Supreme Court to appeal against the ruling, I will meet him there. Even if he doesn’t win and he wants to go for a review, I will meet him there. Wherever he wants to go, I will meet him there, I don’t have an issue at all.
“I’m ready for this government, all that I can say is that my enemies and detractors have been put to shame, I have been vindicated,” Richard Jakpa said.
Recently, the Court of Appeal overturned the trial court’s directive for Dr. Forson to present his defense in the ongoing ambulance case.
Earlier, on June 6, the High Court in Accra had dismissed Dr. Forson’s application for a mistrial and an investigation into the Attorney-General’s conduct. The trial judge ruled that Dr. Forson had not provided sufficient legal grounds to justify a mistrial or an inquiry into the Attorney-General’s actions.
Dr. Forson had filed a supplementary affidavit on June 3, seeking a mistrial, injunction, and/or stay of proceedings in the ambulance case against him and two others. His legal team cited a leaked recording allegedly showing the Attorney-General coaching Jakpa to implicate Dr. Forson during the trial.
The affidavit claimed that the Attorney-General had engaged in misconduct and called for the trial to be declared a mistrial. “It has become necessary to file this affidavit to highlight critical and relevant matters for the Court’s attention in the interest of justice,” the affidavit read. It also mentioned a widely circulated audio recording in which the Attorney-General allegedly discussed with Jakpa the evidence he should present at the trial.
The affidavit further argued that not declaring a mistrial in light of such blatant disregard for the rule of law and ethical prosecution standards by the Attorney-General could severely damage public confidence in the judicial system.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal upheld Dr. Forson’s appeal in a 2:1 majority decision, also acquitting businessman Richard Jakpa.
“It has become necessary to file this affidavit in order to bring to the attention of the Court and in the interest of justice, certain pertinent, material and relevant matters that have a bearing on the fair and just determination of the current application.
“That I say that I have since filing the instant application had the opportunity of listening to a recording widely circulating in the media depicting the voices of the Attorney-General and A3 fervently discussing the evidence the Attorney-General will prefer the said A3 to adduce at the trial. At the hearing of the instant application, my counsel will seek leave of the court to have the said audio recording played in open court.”
The Minority Leader further argued that failing to order a mistrial in these circumstances, where there appears to be a blatant disregard for the rule of law and ethical prosecution standards by the Attorney-General, could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
Subsequently, the Minority Leader filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, which was upheld by a 2:1 majority decision. Businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused, was also acquitted by the court.