Edudzi Tameklo, the legal counsel for Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has asserted that the Attorney General (AG) is unfit to address lawyers at this year’s Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference.
He strongly believes in Dr. Forson’s innocence and questioned the AG’s credibility to speak at the event.
Tameklo accused the AG, Godfred Yeboah Dame, of persecuting Dr. Forson, who is the Minority Leader in Parliament.
Also Read: Whether AG goes to ‘Atoa’ or ‘Nogokpo; Ato Forson will be vindicated – Edudzi Tameklo
He recalled how the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) initially instructed them to complete a police statement at home, indicating there was no wrongdoing from the outset.
The lawyer emphasized that Dr. Forson’s opposition to the government’s Electronic Levy Bill in 2019 made him a target for persecution, which has led to his current legal challenges.
In an interview with JoyNews on Tuesday, Tameklo argued that the AG’s conduct disqualifies him from addressing the 2024 Ghana Bar Conference.
He believes the AG’s actions have compromised his integrity and suitability for such a role.
“When the Attorney-General goes to the point of meeting an accused person and first of all, anybody that has criminal charges against him, he is deemed vulnerable and especially with the counts that can get you 10 years in imprisonment, you are dealing with a vulnerable person and per the professional etiquette rules you are not permitted to deal with an accused person when that accused person is represented by a lawyer directly, you deal with him through his lawyer because of the vulnerable position he finds himself in.”
“On April 9, 2024, the AG placed a call to Jakpa at 7:am telling him to go and secure a medical excuse report and present it to a trial judge as though he was sick when you are not. I want to submit that at this year’s Ghana Bar Conference, the Attorney-General is not worthy to speak to lawyers,” he said.
Also read; Ambulance case: Ato Forson acquitted and discharged
Background
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal, in a 2:1 decision, acquitted and discharged Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa in the ambulance case.
The ruling overturned a trial court order that required them to present their defense for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in the procurement of ambulances for the government.
While Justice Alex Poku Acheampong dissented, Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackah-Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah ruled in favor of the accused.
Following the ruling, AG Godfred Dame issued a statement criticizing the decision as perverse and contrary to the substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, arguing that it undermines public accountability and the rule of law.
