A Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong has raised ethical concerns about the alleged misconduct of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame in the ongoing Ambulance trial.
The renowned Pharmacist particularly expressed his dismay at the audio recording in which the Attorney–General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame suggested that the third accused person, Richard Jakpa obtain a false medical certificate to prevent him from appearing in court.
According to Dr Sarpong, the Attorney-General’s inability to deny the audio recording since the opposition National Democratic Congress played it in a press conference makes the allegation substantial, adding that such unfortunate conduct undermines the country’s legal and medical professions.
“Let’s look critically at this Jakpagate saga. So far the AG hasn’t denied it’s his voice heard and that he wanted the accused to obtain a false sick note. For me if everything else is disregarded, this bit concerns me”.
Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, Democracy and Development Fellow CDD-Ghana
The Danger of A-G’s Misconduct to Health Professionals
The Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) further noted that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame’s advice to Mr Jakpa to secure a false sick note not only constitutes a criminal offence but also poses a severe ethical breach for any health professional who may have been involved in issuing such a document.
He emphasised that the Mr Dame’s conduct raises significant questions about how he cherishes and upholds integrity and ethical standards in the office he occupies.
Furthermore, Dr. Sarpong emphasized that the Attorney-General’s alleged misconduct could have led to the incrimination of an innocent health professional, thereby violating medical ethics and potentially ruining the professional’s career.
He noted that the issuance of a false medical certificate to a court is a criminal act, and involvement in such malpractice could have dire consequences for the individual and the profession at large.
The critique of the renowned Pharmacist centred on the ethical implications of the Attorney-General’s misconduct in the tape recording between the Attorney-General and the third accused person in the Ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa.
He argued that the behaviour of the Attoreny-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame is not befitting of someone who is the leader of Ghana’s Bar and called into question the moral and professional standards being set at the highest levels of the legal system.
In a fervent call for action, Dr. Sarpong urged the public and relevant authorities to reflect deeply on the conduct of the Attorney-General in the tape recording played by the opposition National Democratic Congress.
He also called for a thorough investigation into the alleged misconduct of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to ascertain the facts and to ensure that justice is served, maintaining that the integrity of the legal system must be preserved.
Meanwhile, Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the ongoing ambulance trial, has filed a court application seeking to have the charges against him dismissed or to have the proceedings against him stayed.
In an application submitted to the court by his lawyer, Thaddeus Sory of Messrs @ Law Counsel, Mr Jakpa argued that the Attorney-General abused the process of the court in initiating the charges and instituting the proceedings against him in the ongoing ambulance trial.
Mr Jakpa also posited that the action by the Attorney-General is contrary to his constitutional obligations under articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, adding that the Attorney-General is misusing his constitutional powers by prosecuting him without justification.
In addition, Mr Jakpa claimed that in private conversations, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame admitted that there is no case against him, but rather he was only included in the suit to get rid of the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
READ ALSO: Heavy Lies The Head That Wears The Verdict
