Jakpa’s Leaked Tape: NDC Is Muddying The Waters For Ato Forson – Allotey Jacobs
Bernard Allotey Jacobs says Richard Jakpa’s recording of his telephone conversation on the ambulance purchase trial involving him, Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is an “entrapment”.
The former NDC Central Regional Chairman, discussing the matter during Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show, noted that the audio recording was a scheme by Jakpa and his former political party, the National Democratic Congress, to trap the A-G in his words in an attempt to cause public disaffection for Mr. Godfred Dame.
“For me, what I would ask is it a planned thing? Are they afraid of the outcome of the High Court judgment and for that reason Jakpa would have to use his cousin or his relative to entrap either the Supreme Court Judge or the A-G?”, he said.
He added; “The Policeman will call what has happened an entrapment because the A-G or Kulendi was entrapped by Jakpa. And it is most unfortunate that the NDC is indulging itself in this.”
Allotey Jacobs also slammed the NDC for holding a press conference and leveling accusations against the Attorney-General stating “NDC is muddying the waters for Ato Forson”.
Background
Jakpa and Ato Forson have been accused before a High Court of causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
Per the A-G’s facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.
Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for supply of the 200 ambulances but subsequently 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of €2.37 million, however all were found “not fit for purpose”.
But the case has taken an interesting turn with Richard Jakpa, a third accused person, claiming the A-G approached him to help build a case against the Dr. Ato Forson, who was a former Deputy Finance Minister during the time of the ambulance procurement.
Jakpa had recorded the A-G’s private telephone conversation with him regarding the case.
“A-G 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 the Pandora’s box.”
“I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when I’m here to defend myself”, Jakpa said in court.
