Ghana's President Pressured to Dismiss Attorney General Over Leaked Audio Scandal

Ghana's Attorney General Godfred Dame is facing mounting calls for his dismissal following the release of a leaked audio recording. The recording allegedly captures Dame prompting a witness, Richard Jakpa, to provide false testimony against Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson in an ongoing ambulance case.

The controversy began when Richard Jakpa, the third defendant in the ambulance trial, disclosed that Dame had instructed him to testify falsely against Forson. This revelation has led to widespread demands for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to dismiss Dame from his position.

Franklin Cudjoe, Founder and President of Imani Africa, has expressed his belief in Jakpa's allegations. Cudjoe claims that Dame was pressured by President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to secure Forson's conviction. Cudjoe described Dame as a 'vindictive and wicked individual' who is willing to use any means necessary to ruin Forson.

In response to the allegations, Dame has applied to the High Court in Accra to halt the motion for an enquiry into his conduct and to oppose a motion seeking to declare a mistrial. Dame's lawyer has denied all allegations, describing them as 'untrue and unfounded' and a 'smokescreen' to derail the legitimate prosecution.

Private legal practitioner Kweku Paintsil has argued that Jakpa's outburst does not affect the substantive matter of the trial. Paintsil believes that Dame did nothing wrong by not responding to Jakpa during the hearing, stating, 'The mere introduction of that evidence at the stage that he claimed the Attorney General was annoying him or whatever, I personally would not see how at the end of it, if we are summing up the case you can introduce that to sway or to persuade the judge or to make the judge believe that something that transpired out of the court has every influence on the outcome of the case.'

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has challenged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to provide evidence contradicting the leaked audio recording. NDC Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi has dismissed claims that the tape is doctored, arguing that the Attorney General's office has not denied the tape's authenticity. 'You don't even have the looks in law to even say the tape is doctored because what you're saying is total hearsay, you were not on that phone call,' Gyamfi stated.

The ambulance case has become a high-profile trial involving allegations of financial loss to the state in the purchase of 200 ambulances. The prosecution of Forson and other NDC MPs is seen by some as an attempt to give the governing party an edge in Ghana's hung parliament.

Controversy continues to unfold, and the implications for Ghana's political terrain remain significant. The calls for Dame's dismissal highlight the ongoing tensions and challenges within the country's judicial and political systems.

Key Takeaways

• Ghana's Attorney General Godfred Dame faces calls for dismissal over leaked audio recording.
• Recording allegedly captures Dame prompting witness to provide false testimony against Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson.
• Franklin Cudjoe claims Dame was pressured by President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
• Dame denies allegations, describing them as "untrue and unfounded" and a "smokescreen" to derail prosecution.
• NDC challenges ruling NPP to provide evidence contradicting leaked audio recording.