The High Court in Accra is set to rule today, June 13, 2024, on whether to admit into evidence an audio recording involving the Attorney-General and businessman Richard Jakpa in the ongoing ambulance case.
The Attorney General has objected to an attempt by the lawyers of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to submit the audio conversation between the third accused and Godfred Yeboah Dame as evidence.
Previously admitted and critical to the trial judge’s decision regarding a mistrial on June 6, 2024, the defence lawyers are again seeking to introduce the audio recording.
They argue it is essential for the charges of causing financial loss to the state against the Attorney General.
Lead counsel for Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr. Aziz Bamba, highlighted that the 16-minute recording pertains to the agreement between the Ghanaian government and a subsequent Letter of Credit.
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Dr. Bamba claimed that the Attorney General’s actions in the recording amount to oppression of the accused, compromising the trial’s integrity.
He argued that the audio recording is significant as it suggests the case was not pursued in good faith, indicating procedural irregularities in the Attorney General’s conduct.
In contrast, the Attorney General contended that the audio recording’s relevance is insufficiently justified.
The AG pointed to the trial judge’s earlier dismissal of the mistrial application, which was primarily based on the recording, as evidence of its limited pertinence to the case.
Furthermore, the AG questioned whether the recording addresses the core elements of the alleged financial loss to the state, arguing that it does not support the charges against the accused.
The prosecution supported this stance, also accusing Richard Jakpa of violating the Attorney General’s right to privacy by recording their conversation.
The court is expected to rule on the Attorney General’s objection, after which the trial will continue to determine the next steps in this closely watched legal proceeding.
