Justice Kulendi Accused of Colluding with Jakpa to Derail Ambulance Trial – Petitioner

Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta, the petitioner behind new allegations against Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi and businessman Richard Jakpa, has accused the two of “criminal collusion” to obstruct justice in the now-discontinued Ato Forson ambulance trial.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, October 1, Ofori-Atta said his two legal actions—petitions to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and President John Dramani Mahama—are intended to expose what he described as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the judicial process.

He alleged that Justice Kulendi used his influence to shield Jakpa, who was on trial alongside former Deputy Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson for causing financial loss to the state.

“Yesterday, I commenced two legal processes. First of all, I filed a petition before the CID of the Ghana Police Service to investigate Justice Yonny Kulendi, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, and Mr. Richard Jakpa, who today has been appointed by the NDC administration as the Director of Operations at the National Security,” Ofori-Atta stated.

According to him, the complaint “borders on a crime of collusion between Justice Kulendi and Richard Jakpa to undermine legal proceedings and judicial structure.”

Ofori-Atta claimed that when the case began in January 2023, Jakpa could not initially meet his bail conditions. It was at this point, he alleged, that Justice Kulendi intervened behind the scenes.

“Justice Kulendi went to the then Attorney General’s office and informed the AG that he was related to Jakpa, claiming he was his cousin, and sought to impress upon the AG to either drop the charges or find a way to free Jakpa,” he said.

He further alleged that Justice Kulendi held multiple private meetings with then-Attorney General Godfred Dame to press for Jakpa’s release.

Ofori-Atta also recounted what he described as a “deliberate ambush” arranged by the judge.

“After securing bail for Jakpa on four different occasions, Justice Kulendi invited Mr. Dame to his residence. Unknown to the AG, Jakpa was also present. In the middle of their discussion, Jakpa appeared, and together they appealed to Mr. Dame to drop the charges.”

He insisted that these actions, if proven, amount to a gross abuse of judicial authority.

“Justice Kulendi violated his oath by interfering in legal proceedings before the court. His conduct is clearly an abuse of the judicial process,” Ofori-Atta charged.