The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the 13th press conference held by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, since his appointment, is the latest demonstration of the NDC’s dislike for the A-G this time round back with a doctored recording obtained and edited in an attempt to give the frivolous allegations of the NDC some credibility.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, at the party’s headquarters, Mr Frank Davis, chairman of the NPP’s constitutional and legal affairs committee, pointed out that the NDC over the last three and half years since Mr Yeboah Dame became the AG, has gone all lengths to attack and discredit him simply because of his commitment to upholding the rule of law and to prosecuting all manner of persons who he suspects to have misappropriated state funds or fallen short of the laws of the country.

The NPP press conference was held on the back of a similar one held by the NDC and addressed by the Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, where the party put out a recording of a purported telephone conversation alleged to have taken place between the AG and one Richard Jakpa, one of two accused persons standing trial at the High Court in the case of the Republic versus Cassiel Ato Forson and another (Ambulance Case).

“It is no secret that the NDC since the commencement of Ato Forson’s prosecution has threatened rain and storm against the government, the Attorney General, and any person they can find to cajole the Attorney General from discontinuing the prosecution. Pressure has come from every angle, including former President Mahama, the leadership of the Minority in Parliament, clergy, and business friends of Ato Forson.

“Indeed, Former President Mahama specifically maintained the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get Members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament and has on several other occasions, stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the Minority in Parliament. This pressure stems from some warped and baseless logic of the NDC that the Ato Forson’s prosecution is politically motivated and its Leader in Parliament, should be immune from prosecution even when the facts indicate conduct resulting in financial loss to the state,” Frank Davis stated.

“Investigations commenced as far back as 2017, making it imperative to ask, “Why is Ato Forson the only government official being prosecuted from all the former NDC Ministers from whom statements were taken”. The prosecution is based on the various documentation available from the participating agencies in the transaction and this is evidenced by the Court’s ruling upholding that a case has been made by the Attorney General that warrants an answer from the defence. It is also worth noting that the prosecution of Cassiel Ato Forson commenced even before he became Minority Leader, making worthless and nonsensical the suggestion that he is being prosecuted because he is the minority leader of the NDC

“If at all, the only persecution in this instance is the malicious and perennial dislike of the NDC towards the Attorney General since he assumed office, and the several attempts to stultify his work. The records are there to show that right from his appointment as Attorney General, the NDC has spent one of the longest periods in vetting him with the hope of impeaching his appointment but the Attorney General remained resolute to their admiration, Frank Davis further stated.

According to the NPP astute lawyer, “the NDC filed a Motion for Censure to remove Godfred Dame from office as Attorney General soon after his appointment, which also failed. The NDC has, since his appointment, held over 12 press conferences against the person of the attorney general.”

“The latest allegation by Richard Jakpa, the 3rd accused and an associate of Cassiel Ato Forson in this botched Ambulance procurement transaction, is therefore only a further ploy, contrived to curtail the prosecution of Ato Forson and smear the Attorney General’s integrity and reputation.

“But this would also not see the light of day as we believe firmly that public officials, regardless of social standing, must be equally accountable for their use of public resources. Needless to say, the law is no respecter of persons,” Mr Davis remarked.