John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized Minister of Justice and Attorney-General Godfred Dame, accusing him of acting more like a legal representative for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) rather than fulfilling his duties impartially.
In an exclusive interview with TV3’s Komla Klutse on Tuesday, July 30, Mahama expressed his disapproval of Dame’s conduct following the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge the accused in the ambulance case. Mahama stated, “I believe this Attorney-General has been discredited enough. In any other part of the world, with the coaching of witnesses and the discussions we’ve seen, this prosecution would be struck out as malicious.”
Mahama argued that Dame shows a lack of enthusiasm in pursuing cases involving the current administration, citing an ongoing ambulance case that he believes is more significant than those currently being prosecuted. He accused Dame of being overly zealous in targeting political opponents, stating, “He acts like a legal representative of the NPP, not the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice is supposed to ensure fairness.”
Mahama welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision, which he described as a pleasant surprise, indicating that justice still prevails in Ghana. He reiterated that the prosecution of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa was unwarranted and highlighted the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice.
The Court of Appeal’s decision led to the acquittal and discharge of Dr. Forson, former Deputy Finance Minister, and businessman Richard Jakpa. This ruling overturned the High Court’s March 2023 order for them to open their defense on charges of willfully causing financial loss to the state in a 2.37 million Euro ambulance procurement case. The appellate court concluded that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence, attributing any financial loss to the Ministry of Health’s recklessness.
Mahama emphasized that under his leadership, accountability would be pursued fairly, promising to prosecute any wrongdoing regardless of political affiliation.
