“Even though they lay traps for me, I’ll flee from them the righteous will always prevail over evil” – AG

Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General, made these remarks in reaction to recent events in the ambulance purchase trial.

“The Lord does not delight in the pleasure of the wicked and even though they lay traps for me, I’ll flee from them. The righteous will always prevail over evil.”

Regarding his claimed actions as a prosecutor in the case, the first and third accused’s attorneys have filed four applications at the High Court.

Dr. Ato Forson’s attorneys have filed a motion for a mistrial, a stay of proceedings pending appeal, and an inquiry into the Attorney General’s purported actions.

Once more, there is an application for an order to strike out charges against Richard Jakpa, the third accused, and an affidavit from the former Deputy Finance Minister supporting Jakpa’s application.

Afia Serwah Asare Botwe, the presiding judge, announced that she had received the four applications from the accused when the case was called on Thursday, June 4.

Alfred Tuah Yeboah, the deputy attorney general, revealed that they had submitted an affidavit objecting to the request that the charges against Richard Jakpa be dropped.

Lead attorney Thaddeus Sory made a move to object to the affidavit in opposition in response on behalf of Richard Jakpa.

He contended that the information about the discussion between the A-G and Richard Jakpa was not properly attributed in the document.

“We are opposed to the affidavit in opposition filed by the respondent on 31 May 2024 on two main grounds: That affidavit fails to disclose the source of the information in respect of the matters contained in the affidavit, specifically matters relating to the A3’s direct conversation with the A-G. It contains matters which are not in his personal knowledge and are therefore inadmissible on ground of being hearsay. P13, 16 and 20 of the affidavits in opposition and the deposition on which they are supposed to have been found, which is paragraph 1.

“That deposition does not disclose the source of the information contained in this affidavit in opposition. Being a principal state at the office of the Attorney-General does not mean you have personal knowledge of direct interactions that took place between the A3 and A-G. He refers to matters that took place in chambers and he wasn’t there. He refers to meeting held at the residence of a Supreme Court judge which he was not there,” Thaddeus noted.

Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, however, responded by claiming that the arguments were baseless.

“The objections are duly unfounded and are without merit. The manner in which the objection was raised defeats all requirements of fairness. My lady will note that my learned friend did not state any particulars of the objection. He only refers to specific paragraphs he intends to attack.

“It is not accurate at all for counsel to say that deponent to the affidavit did not disclose the source of his information. I refer to paragraph 1… matters that come to his knowledge in the course of his work.

“The authorities that my learned friend intended to rely on are irrelevant. In criminal matters he refers to nothing. CI 47 is not applicable to the proceedings before you.

The trial was deferred after Justice Asare-Botwe stated that she would make a decision regarding the parties’ applications on Thursday, June 6.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com