Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing trial of Dr. Ato Forson, on Thursday, June 13, revealed during cross-examination that he had requested and attended meetings with the learned Attorney-General.
Mr Jakpa stated that he met the Attorney-General four times, facilitated through Justice Kulendi, to explain why he believed the charges against him were unfounded.
He asserted that these meetings allowed him to provide a comprehensive explanation of his situation. He detailed a conversation between himself and the Attorney-General in the presence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi, during the cross-examination led by Dr. Bassit Bamba, the lawyer for Dr. Ato Forson.
In his testimony, Mr Jakpa expressed the view that the prosecution was driven by political motives, aimed at discrediting the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson, and forcing a by-election.
He suggested that the current government’s handling of the ambulance procurement and implementation process was the real issue, not his actions.
Mr Jakpa contended that the state and the current government failed to follow the implementation letter, leading to the ambulances being deemed unfit.
He argued that the accessories meant to be fitted into the ambulances had not yet been cleared and installed, thus the ambulances could not be declared unfit for their intended purpose.
The cross-examination by Dr. Bassit Bamba concluded, with Jakpa providing extensive answers that implied the state bore responsibility for the issues with the ambulances.
Following the conclusion of the defense’s cross-examination, the state began its cross-examination of Jakpa, which will continue on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.