Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has dismissed as “baseless” and “a desperate ploy to obstruct justice” allegations made against him by businessman and National Security operative, Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the controversial ambulance case involving Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
In a detailed 50-point statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Monday, October 6, 2025, Mr. Dame rejected claims that he fabricated evidence or influenced Jakpa’s testimony in the case, Republic vrs. Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr. Sylvester Anemena, and Richard Jakpa.
“I did not fabricate any evidence led in that criminal trial. I have not been shown any piece of evidence adduced in the matter, either by the prosecution or the defence, which is alleged to be fabricated by me.”
He clarified that he never influenced Jakpa’s testimony and that the allegation of evidence fabrication was a misrepresentation of a private conversation secretly recorded by Jakpa.
“The so-called evidence is a secret recording of a telephone conversation between himself and me on 26 March 2024,” he said, adding that the call actually took place on April 9, 2024. “I am unable to respond to an allegation based on a conversation that never happened on the said date.”
Explaining further, Mr. Dame said the alleged offence of evidence fabrication “entails forging or falsifying documents or circumstances intended to mislead a judge or public officer.” He maintained that none of his actions met that definition.
Context of the Call
Mr. Dame explained that by the time of the call, the prosecution had already filed and tendered all documents it intended to rely on, as early as February 14, 2022.
The High Court had also ruled on March 30, 2023, that a prima facie case had been established against the accused persons.
“At that stage, Dr. Forson had closed his case, and the second accused’s case had been discontinued due to ill health,” he said. “The only accused left was Richard Jakpa, who had decided to represent himself.”
He insisted the call was made solely to discuss a possible adjournment of proceedings since he had to prepare for an international arbitration in London. “In the course of the discussion, he revived disagreements over the ambulance contract and its use of Letters of Credit,” Dame noted.
The former Attorney-General described Jakpa’s complaint as a product of frustration and resentment. “This complaint by Richard Jakpa is just sour grapes as he felt aggrieved by my refusal to yield to his representations, in meetings with Justice Kulendi, for me to discontinue his prosecution.”
He further alleged that Dr. Ato Forson personally visited his home in 2023 to persuade him to halt the prosecution, but he refused. “I was under immense pressure from both accused persons, but I stood my ground,” Dame stated.
Role of Justice Kulendi
Mr. Dame admitted that his only encounters with Jakpa outside court occurred at the residence of Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi, describing him as “a respected senior colleague for many years.”
“The fact remains that there would have been no ‘Dame–Jakpa’ without Justice Kulendi,” he said.
“It is inconceivable for a lawyer, more so the Attorney-General, to refuse invitations by a Justice of the Supreme Court.” He added that his visits were purely out of respect and did not compromise his independence or the case.
Dame emphasized that the High Court had already examined and dismissed Jakpa’s allegations. Citing portions of Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe’s June 6, 2024 ruling, he quoted, “After listening to the conversation between A3 and A1, the issue of whether the Attorney-General actually told A3 to implicate A1 is not borne out by the evidence… There is no actual evidence that the Attorney-General behaved in such an egregious manner that the 1st Accused’s right to a fair trial is in jeopardy.”
Based on this, Dame argued that the CID had no jurisdiction to reopen matters already determined by the court. “The complaint seeks to relitigate issues already adjudicated upon by a competent court. The matters have become res judicata,” he said.
Recounting his limited engagement with Jakpa, Mr. Dame stated, “I have never met Mr. Jakpa anywhere apart from the courtroom and the residence of Justice Kulendi.”
He said their first interaction was in January 2022 when Justice Kulendi visited his office to request Jakpa’s temporary release pending bail verification, which he granted out of courtesy. Jakpa later obtained his number from the judge and sent him 68 WhatsApp messages, of which Dame replied to only two, a fact Jakpa admitted in court.
“In light of the above, the allegation of fabrication of evidence is totally baseless and springs only from the fertile imagination of Richard Jakpa,” he concluded.
The former Attorney-General maintained that his April 9, 2024, call with Jakpa was purely procedural, relating to a court adjournment before his arbitration hearing in London, a case, he added, that Ghana ultimately won.
By Prince Ahenkorah