Senior official at Ghana’s National Security Secretariat has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the country’s former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, for allegedly attempting to influence judicial proceedings in an ongoing criminal trial.
Richard Jakpa, who is also a defendant in the controversial ambulance procurement case, alleges that Mr Dame sought to coach his testimony to implicate fellow accused and Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Alleged Coaching and Evidence Fabrication
In a petition submitted to the CID on 23 July 2025, Mr Jakpa claims that Mr Dame encouraged him to provide statements under oath that could bolster the prosecution’s case against Dr Forson even if those statements were not consistent with the facts.
He further alleges that in a phone call on 26 March 2024, a recording of which he says he possesses, Mr Dame advised him on how to respond to cross-examination in relation to Letters of Credit central to the trial.
According to Mr Jakpa, the former Attorney General also suggested that he obtain a false medical excuse to delay court proceedings until Mr Dame returned from an overseas assignment. Mr Jakpa says he declined the suggestion, describing it as “unethical and criminal”.
Response from Mr Dame
Mr Dame has previously denied any wrongdoing. In earlier public remarks, he said he was concerned about Mr Jakpa’s health and had advised a postponement of proceedings purely on humanitarian grounds. He has also criticized the recording of their conversation, saying it was done without his consent and amounted to a breach of trust.
Call for Criminal Probe
Mr Jakpa is calling for the police to open a formal investigation into the conduct of Mr Dame, who served as Ghana’s Attorney General until January 2025. He argues that the alleged interference constitutes a serious threat to judicial independence and public trust in the justice system. The Ghana Police Service has not yet commented on whether it will act on the petition.
