Lawyer Martin Kpebu has stated that the Attorney General is entitled to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision regarding the ambulance scandal, and may choose to do so.
However, Mr. Kpebu noted that, as evidenced by past cases such as the financial lawsuit involving Akwasi Osie-Adjei and Gyimah Daniel vs. the state, it is not advisable to pursue an appeal when a case is weak or untenable, as history has shown.
He counseled the Attorney General to swallow his pride, acknowledge his mistake in pursuing a misguided course of action, and accept that he should have accepted the settlement offer from Big Sea rather than pursuing a politically motivated agenda.
“You heard all the things in Jakpa’s revelation. I mean, it is one case that has embarrassed and damaged Ghana so he [the Attorney General] should have put an end to this case a long time ago. This appeal further entrenches the embarrassment we suffered”.
“I am struggling to understand what he is doing. Here you are, Godfred Dame, caught on a tape coaching witnesses because your case is bad. Meeting in Justice Kulendi’s house and then he is going on and on. Does he think it is about him personally? Is he the only lawyer in Ghana”.
Lawyer Martin Kpebu
Lawyer Kpebu added that the Attorney General is fortunate to have a President who is equally embroiled in corruption, as this has allowed the Attorney General’s actions to align with the government’s questionable objectives, thereby shielding him from accountability.
He pointed out that the prolonged ambulance trial was a testament to the government’s corrupt machinations, which sought to exploit any means necessary, fair or foul, to discredit Ato Forson and force a by-election.
Lawyer Kpebu made a scathing assessment, declaring that President Akufo-Addo is the most corrupt head of state in Ghana’s history, citing the President’s allowance of the ambulance trial to proceed despite a lack of evidence as a stark illustration of his corrupt tendencies.
He opined that the court judge should have brought the case to a swift conclusion much earlier, thereby sparing the country the embarrassment and reputational damage caused by the prolonged trial.
Court Of Appeal’s Decision Politicized
However, Lawyer Kweku Paintsil countered Martin Kpebu’s view, arguing that the Court of Appeal’s rationale for its decision was more politically motivated than legally sound, particularly given its reliance on newly introduced evidence that was not part of the original case.
Mr. Paintsil asserted that the Attorney General, like any other citizen, has the constitutional right to appeal the court’s decision.
As such, he condemned the efforts to exert political pressure on the Attorney General to forgo an appeal, which he saw as an attempt to undermine the legal process.
“With due respect, all of those who are opposed to this rely on political reasons and not really legal reasons. And as for politics, we will leave it where it is but the court of law must clear this thing out. Personally, I am not opposed to the AG lodging this appeal”.
Lawyer Kweku Paintsil
Mr. Paintsil suggested that the public will only accept the outcome and consider the case closed once the Supreme Court has delivered its final ruling, implying that the highest court’s decision will bring a sense of closure and finality to the matter.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Martin Kpebu counseled the Attorney General to concede defeat, accept the court’s verdict, and opt for the settlement offer from Big Sea, rather than pursuing further legal action.
He threatened to take personal legal action against the Attorney General, seeking damages for the financial losses suffered by the state, if he failed to accept the court’s decision and the settlement offer, and instead exited office with the change of administration.
Martin Kpebu stressed that the Attorney General should now be willing to go the extra mile to cooperate with Big Sea, guaranteeing that the country obtains the best possible outcome and maximum value for its resources.
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