Justice of the High Court, Justice Aria Serwah Asare-Botwe has advised the Attorney-General (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame to recuse himself from the ongoing ambulance purchase case deal case.
The judge explained that this approach protects the judicial process and builds public trust by ensuring cases are heard in the courtroom, rather than creating the impression that they can be held anywhere else.
“It is my considered view that it will be prudent to strongly advise the A-G not to be directly involved in the conduct of this case. This is one way of ensuring that the judicial process is protected and to gain public confidence to not give a perception that cases can be held any other place except the courtroom,” Justice Asare-Botwe said.
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However, in the ruling related to the secret audio recording of a conversation between Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and Richard Jakpa, the third defendant in the ambulance case, the judge stated that the matters discussed in the audio do not constitute criminal behavior.
The judge also noted that while the court’s jurisdiction does not extend to the portion of the audio where the Attorney-General requested a medical excuse from the businessman, it falls under the purview of the General Legal Council, as governed by the Legislative Instrument (L.I) regulating lawyers’ professional conduct.
This ruling sets as the first time an Attorney-General has been directed to step aside from a case due to allegations of misconduct, making way for greater accountability in the legal profession.
