To what appears to be an unexpected surprise from lawyers for the defense and members of the gallery, the learned Attorney-General and Justice Minister took over the mantle from his learned Deputy A-G in cross-examining Richard Jakpa today, the 27th day of July, 2024.
The A-G, in what appears to be his strategy chose not to be the cross-examining Counsel of Richard Jakpa on matters of his credibility. His part as it appears from a strategy playbook of the prosecution was to hit the witness on questions bothering on the incorporation of the company of Richard Jakpa and the involvement of Big Sea limited in the purchase and shipment of vans purported to be ambulances which are deemed by the court to be worthless.
Incorporation of Jakpa at Business
The learned and respected Attorney-General through questioning suggested to Mr. Jakpa that he was the mind soul and body of the company of Mr. Jakpa, Jakpa at Business, which was involved in the procurement of the ambulances, the subject matter of the ongoing trial.
Mr. Jakpa admitted to the facts of directorship, Board Chairmanship and other elements of company ownership and direct relationship with Jakpa at Business. He agreed with the suggestion of the A-G whose questions appeared crisp and pointed, that the government announced the intention to purchase ambulances and his company offered through proposals to procure the needed and announced ambulances for the state.
To a more critically attentive Justice Asare-Botwe, the learned A-G dived into matters regarding the incorporation of Big Sea Limited, the overseas based company which exported the said ambulances to Ghana and received payment directly from the State through owing to its relationship with Jakpa at Business. Mr. Jakpa naturally rejected knowledge of the incorporation details of the overseas commercial entity and spiritedly suggested to the A-G the certification of Jakpa at Business and Big Sea in quality assurance for their nature of business, which is the sale of ambulances, suggested incorporation of the company before the contract year.
Through the yearly renewal of Big Sea to ensure quality compliance with World Quality Assurance, Mr. Jakpa sought to suggest to prosecution that the business partners of Jakpa at Business in the ambulance deal were incorporated before the year of the contract between government and Jakpa at Business for the supply of ambulances.
Parliamentary Approval
The A-G sought to suggest to the 3rd accused and witness under cross-examination that Big Sea was never referred to in parliamentary approvals of the agreement for the sale and purchases of ambulances into Ghana. Despite admitting this, Mr. Jakpa firmly suggested to prosecution that the contract amount was justified per the specifications indicated for the ambulances to be purchased and delivered by Jakpa at Business.
700,000 Euros to Jakpa
Mr. Dame suggested to Mr. Jakpa to his admission that he received 28% of the entire amount payed directly to Big Seas by the State through a letter of credit. The learned A-G suggested to the witness that the said amount was 700,000 Euros which the witness did not deny as he readily did not remember the actual figure the 28% translated into.
In camera hearing
Proceedings continued in camera as the learned Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge cleared the courtroom leaving only counsel for both parties. Per sources of The Law Platform, the learned lead Counsel for the State, Godfred Yeboah Dame and Thaddeus Sory for Richard Jakpa and Dr. Bamba for Mr. Ato Forson approached the bench for a discussion which per our sources centered on an original version of a document with the seal of the State suggesting authorizations for payment by the State for the ambulances.
Next Court date
Hon. Godfred Dame continues his cross-examination on Tuesday the 2nd day of July, 2024. His cross-examination depending on the manner of answering of question by Mr. Jakpa will take some three hours to end for the day.
Source: thelawplatform