The Accra High Court has accepted into evidence Richard Jakpa’s audio recording of himself and the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame for cross examination.
Some weeks ago, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) released an audio in which the third accused, Richard Jakpa engaging in a conversation with the Attorney-General.
The NDC alleged that, Mr. Yeboah Dame was impressing upon Richard Jakpa to skew his answers and testimony to support the prosecution’s case.
In court on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the 16-minute audio recording was played in open court and was subsequently opposed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa to be tendered into evidence.
The DPP argued that an insufficient foundation has been laid by lawyers for the first accused person to warrant the recording’s inclusion into evidence in the ongoing criminal trial of Cassiel Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana (Discharged) and Richard Jakpa.
“My lady will note that by its own ruling, this court admitted into evidence this same recording that counsel seeks to tender in through cross-examination of the third accused.
However, in court on Thursday, June 13, the judge after reviewing the arguments for and against its admission ruled that it should be admitted.
Ato Forson, who is the Minority leader and a businessman is currently standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of € 2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
They have both pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.
Facts of the case presented by the prosecution said in 2009 while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.
The facts said, Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Ltd, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government.
Parliament then approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank.
On November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances.
The facts added that on August 7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for Letters of Credit covering €3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea.
The Letters of Credit were accordingly released to Big Sea.
It is the case of the prosecution that 10 of the ambulances delivered under the deal on December 16, 2014, were fundamentally defective with some not even having any medical equipment in them, causing a financial loss to the state.