The third accused person in the ongoing trial of the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Richard Jakpa, a businessman, has accused the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, of attempting to coerce him to make a case against the minority leader.

Richard Jakpa, who is reported by 3news.com to have made this claim during court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, stated that the Attorney General called him at odd hours to get his cooperation.

He made these remarks when Dame accused him of protecting Ato Forson, threatening to reveal more if the Attorney General dares him.

"The AG has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1, and I have evidence for that.

"If he pushes me, I will open Pandora's box. I don't understand why the AG would accuse me of defending A1 when I'm here to defend myself," the third accused is quoted as having said.

Background:

Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister for Finance; Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health; and a private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for allegedly wilfully causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health.

The trial of the former deputy finance minister and the others began on January 18, 2022, before the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge.

They have pleaded not guilty to the five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment of crime, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.

In March 2024, the state opted to discontinue the case against the former Chief Director of the Ministry, who is currently undergoing further care in India due to health complications.

BAI/SEA

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