Businessman, Richard Jakpa has stated that there was never any plea bargaining discussion or negotiation between himself, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and his cousin.

He made this statement on Thursday, June 20, when he appeared in court to testify in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.

A WhatsApp text message exchange between the Attorney-General and the third accused, Mr Jakpa revealed he had contacted Mr Dame, introducing himself as the cousin of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi.

The Attorney-General responded, stating he would arrange a meeting with Mr Jakpa’s cousin after Mr Jakpa requested a private meeting.

The prosecution argued that Mr Jakpa harassed the Attorney-General with numerous messages, which Mr Dame barely responded to, claiming that Mr Jakpa leveraged his relationship with his cousin to secure a meeting with the Attorney-General.

However, Mr Jakpa contended that he would have called the Attorney-General directly if he intended to exploit his cousin's relationship.

“The evidence they have presented is clear without ambiguity that I requested a private meeting with the AG at a time and venue of his discretion. I gave him that discretion. And in exercising that discretion he opted to arrange the meeting through my cousin because he felt more comfortable dealing with me in the presence of my cousin.

“There is nowhere in my message to him for that private meeting did I mention Justice Yonny Kulendi's name or my cousin's name. It is the AG who roped in Justice Kulendi in the private meeting he, the AG had agreed to have with me. Justice Kulendi wasn't involved in deciding where we should have the meeting. The records presented by the AG are self-explanatory,” Mr Jakpa said.

The third accused stated that the attorney general acted on the text message he sent, made arrangements with his cousin, agreed to hold the meeting at his house, and his cousin called him to attend.

“My request to the AG for a private meeting never mentioned Justice Yonny Kulendi, the time, or the venue. The AG chose the location, time, and venue.”

However, the prosecution countered Mr Jakpa's claims, saying that his assertion about Justice Kulendi calling him for the meeting with the AG was false and that the AG did not arrange the meeting at Justice Kulendi's house.

Responding to these claims, the third accused said, “What the AG is claiming is completely false and dishonest because the issue of the invitation does not arise, as I made the initial request for the meeting. It wasn't the AG who initially wanted to meet me and extended an invitation.

"What is important is that I made the request, and it is documented; he has not denied it. He committed to arranging the meeting through my cousin, and he has not denied it. As for the details of how he executed the arrangement, I'm not privy to that,” Mr Jakpa said.