In a significant revelation during the ongoing ambulance procurement trial, Richard Jakpa, the third accused, disclosed that Attorney-General Godfred Dame chose to meet him at the home of Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi, his cousin, citing comfort and familiarity with the setting.
This disclosure, made on Thursday, June 20, adds a new dimension to the already high-profile case.
During his testimony, Jakpa detailed the circumstances of the meeting, explaining that the Attorney-General felt more at ease conducting their discussions at Justice Kulendi’s residence.
The purpose of this meeting was to facilitate an introduction between Jakpa and Mr. Dame prior to the commencement of the trial. Jakpa noted that he obtained the Attorney-General’s contact information through Justice Kulendi, which enabled their subsequent communication.
In his testimony, Jakpa also addressed the contentious issue of the WhatsApp messages exchanged between him and the Attorney-General.
He claimed that the messages submitted as evidence were altered and did not reflect the original content of their communications. According to Jakpa, these changes misrepresented his conversations with the Attorney-General, complicating the legal proceedings.
The court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, had previously admitted 68 WhatsApp messages from Jakpa into evidence. Despite Jakpa’s objections, the judge ruled that the court would determine the weight and relevance of this evidence as the trial progresses.
This trial, already mired in controversy, has been further complicated by Jakpa’s allegations of evidence tampering and the unusual choice of meeting location between him and the Attorney-General.