Lawmaker Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi argues that Attorney-General Godfred Dame should have voluntarily recused himself from the ambulance case, citing a conflict of interest.
Appiah-Kubi believes Dame’s continued involvement in the case despite the trial judge’s advice to step aside raises ethical concerns. “Godfred Dame should have taken the initiative to recuse himself, rather than waiting for the judge’s advice,” Appiah-Kubi emphasized.
The trial judge, Justice Efia Serwah Asare-Botwey, had advised Dame to recuse himself to ensure a fair trial, but Dame insisted on continuing with the prosecution.
The judge’s advice was based on an alleged conversation between Dame and a third party, which suggested an attempt to implicate the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Ato Forson’s legal team had filed a motion for a mistrial, citing allegations of professional misconduct against Dame.
The motion was supported by a supplementary affidavit that annexed a recording of a telephone conversation between Dame and Richard Jakpa, as well as media reports quoting Jakpa’s allegations against Dame.
Ato Forson argued that Dame’s conduct was unlawful and reprehensible, and that continuing with the trial would be a travesty of justice.
However, Dame opposed the motion, arguing that it was without merit and unknown to Ghanaian law.
Dame asserted that he had a constitutional duty to prosecute all crimes and could not be prohibited from doing so.
He also described the motion as a smokescreen to abort Ato Forson’s legitimate prosecution for actions that led to the State losing colossal amounts of funds.
The court’s dismissal of the motion and Dame’s continued involvement in the case have sparked debate about the role of the Attorney-General in prosecutions and the need for transparency and accountability in the justice system.
Appiah-Kubi’s call for Dame’s recusal highlights the concerns about conflict of interest and the need for the Attorney-General to prioritize justice over personal interests.
