In a significant development in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial, the prosecution has for the first time admitted that Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame met with the 3rd accused person, Richard Jakpa, at the residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi.

However, the prosecution clarified that the meeting was not arranged and that Richard Jakpa coincidentally "only appeared" at the judge's residence when the Attorney General was visiting.

This affirmation by the prosecution was the first time they confirmed what Richard Jakpa had previously stated during cross-examination, that he had met Godfred Yeboah Dame at Justice Yonny Kulendi's house on several occasions.

The revelation came during a question put to Richard Jakpa by the Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, who stated that "he (Richard Jakpa) only appeared at Justice Kulendi's house when the Attorney General was there."

Yonny Kulendi

In response, Richard Jakpa denied the assertion, stating that it was the Attorney General who ambushed him at his cousin's house. He further explained that he had spoken with the Attorney General on Justice Kulendi's phone when he was securing his bail, contradicting the prosecution's claim that there was no arrangement for the meeting.

The prosecution suggested that there was no evidence of the Attorney General arranging the meeting in the WhatsApp chats between him and Richard Jakpa. However, Richard Jakpa argued that he had asked for a meeting with the Attorney General and not an arrangement, noting that the Attorney General had the opportunity to decline his request.

The trial judge and lawyer for Richard Jakpa, Thaddeus Sory, engaged in an altercation over the manner in which the 3rd accused was answering questions. After the heated exchange, Richard Jakpa continued his testimony, stating that the Attorney General had put into action the text message he had sent to him to meet at Justice Kulendi's house, where he felt comfortable.

The prosecution will continue to cross-examine the 3rd accused next week, but the exact date is yet to be determined.