On Thursday, June 13, Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance procurement case, underwent rigorous cross-examination by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson's legal team. 

This followed the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, admitting an audio recording involving the Attorney-General and Jakpa into evidence earlier in the day.

During the cross-examination led by Dr Aziz Bamba, Jakpa disclosed significant details about his interactions with the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice regarding the case.

AG asked me to help him jail Ato Forson, and he will free me - Jakpa

Under oath, Mr Jakpa revealed that Godfred Dame had solicited his cooperation with assurances of securing his exoneration.

• Read also: AG asked for my help to jail Ato Forson and get him off his parliamentary seat – Jakpa

He asserted that Dame had promised him a discharge at the submission of no case, prompting him to cooperate fully and share pertinent documents with the Attorney-General.

• Read also: Jakpa’s tape admitted into evidence in ongoing ambulance trial

The businessman further stated that based on these assurances, he believed the Attorney-General would support him. 

This belief led to Mr Dame providing him with the addendum to the main contract between the government of Ghana and Big Sea even before the prosecution had completed its case.

I met Dame at residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi - Jakpa

Moreover, Mr Jakpa informed the court that he had four meetings with the Attorney-General, some of which took place at the residence of Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi, who happens to be Jakpa's cousin. 

While Mr Jakpa disclosed that he only initiated the first meeting, he indicated that subsequent meetings were arranged at the insistence of the Attorney-General.

AG said his target was Dr Ato Forson, not me – Jakpa

In another revelation, Jakpa asserted that Godfred Dame had explicitly stated that the primary target of the case was Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the current Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam Constituency and Minority Leader.

• Read also: Ambulance trial: AG said his target was Dr Ato Forson, not me – Richard Jakpa

“A-G told me that everybody knows his target is Dr Forson and as for me I was just added so that it wouldn’t look like Dr Forson is being hunted,” he said.

Without Finance Minister’s authorisation seal, CAGD and BoG won’t accept LCs – Jakpa to court

Richard Jakpa also detailed his standard procedures for interacting with the Ghanaian government as a businessman.

According to Mr Jakpa, communications typically originate from Secretaries of Chief Directors or Deputy Ministers, who forward letters to the office of the substantive Minister of Finance.

• Read also: Without Finance Minister’s authorisation seal, CAGD and BoG won’t accept LCs – Jakpa to court

Mr Jakpa explained that upon receipt of these communications, the substantive Secretary of the Minister of Finance would seek approval from the Minister. Once approved, the Secretary would affix the authorisation seal on the letter. 

Only then could the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) or the Bank of Ghana (BoG) proceed with implementing the instructions contained in the letter.

Agyeman-Manu told me NPP had taken over ambulance case to give fresh contracts to party businessmen – Jakpa

The third accused also claimed that Ghana's former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu informed him that the “New Patriotic Party (NPP) headquarters had taken over the ambulance case to give fresh contracts to party businessmen to enrich the party."

He stated that he had approached Mr Agyemang-Manu at one point and presented letters from former Health Minister Alex Segbefia to persuade him to clear the ambulance accessories stuck at the port, as the contract implementation issues had been resolved and documented in the letter.

According to him, Mr Agyemang-Manu also told him that the ambulances imported by the current government were no different from the ones Big Sea brought into the country.

State prosecutors will have their turn to cross-examine Mr Jakpa on June 18.

Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, says he does not think that the judge admitting the much-publicised audio involving the Attorney General and the third accused person Richard Jakpa into evidence, would significantly impact the outcome of the ambulance procurement case.

He argues that the audio does not contain enough evidence to guarantee that Richard Jakpa will win the case.

Speaking to Joy News after Thursday's court proceedings, where Richard Jakpa made several claims against the Attorney General including a conversation in a WhatsApp chat, he declined to comment on Jakpa's the testimony, saying they will also have their day in court.