Yaw Buaben Asamoa, a senior policy advisor to Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, founder and leader of the Movement for Change, has reemphasized the imperative of the ruling on the ambulance procurement trial on Ghana’s judicial independence.
The former Member of Parliament for Adentan says Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s ruling on the matter would either collapse or cement judicial independence in Ghana.
“Her ruling will cement or collapse judicial independence,” he told Alfred Ocansey on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, June 22, 2024.
Explaining his reason for the comments, the former Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said “if she rules and she is doubtful and she creates the impression that there was judicial independence, whether or not she was actually influenced, then it means that the notion that ‘you can go to the judiciary and get a fair hearing will be jeopardized’.
He, however, explained that what he meant by “fair” is a verdict that will be pleasing to the public and not being on either of the sides.
“In this case, fair, I’m not falling on either side of the matter. Fair is what will meet the need of the public for certainty, for a course of conduct that is acceptable to the public. A judicial ruling that we can all use as a standard, as a light going forward,” he stated.
Mr. Asamoa was commenting on the admission of a full WhatsApp conversation between the A-G and the third accused into evidence by the court,
Background
An Accra High Court admitted into evidence, the full WhatsApp messages between Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial and the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame. Richard Jakpa had earlier presented portions of the conversation to the court which was admitted.
However, the prosecution submitted the full chat which was accepted by the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, indicating the court cannot reject the full chat since it had earlier accepted portions of it which were presented by the third defendant, Richard Jakpa.
She, however, stated that the weight of the evidence presented could only be determined by the court.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, during proceedings on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, shed light on the significant number of messages the third accused sent in contrast to the few ones Mr. Dame responded to.
Mr. Jakpa admitted that he introduced himself to the Attorney-General before the trial and obtained the Justice Minister’s contact information through his cousin, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi.
Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that the messages presented in court did not represent the entire conversation but were selectively chosen for their relevance to his case.
Meanwhile, counsel for the defence, Thaddeus Sory, objected to the full conversation saying they would need more to review the messages thoroughly.
The court had earlier admitted into evidence, a tape containing a telephone conversation between the A-G and Mr. Jakpa, where Mr. Dame is accused of impressing upon Jakpa to falsify his testimony against the first accused, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
