An Accra High Court has called on the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame to recuse himself from the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.
This follows a ruling by the court which dismissed Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s application for a mistrial and an inquiry into the Attorney-General’s conduct in the case.
The court directed the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP to seek redress at the appropriate forum, specifically the General Legal Council if he so desired.
Despite objections, a telephone recording between Jakpa and Dame was admitted into evidence.
On Monday, June 3, Ato Forson filed a supplementary affidavit supporting his motion for a mistrial, an injunction, and a stay of proceedings. His legal team cited a leaked tape in which the Attorney-General allegedly attempted to coach Jakpa to implicate the Minority Leader in the trial.
Ato Forson’s legal team argued that the Attorney-General’s conduct constituted a gross violation of prosecutorial ethics and called for the prosecution to be declared a mistrial. Dr Forson contended that failing to declare a mistrial under such circumstances would undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
Last month, during cross-examination, Jakpa revealed that the Attorney-General had contacted him at odd hours to solicit testimony against Ato Forson. This revelation has led to public outcry, with calls for the Attorney-General’s resignation.
