Dame has to answer for his sins in ambulance trial — Franklin Cudjoe on GLC petition

The Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has backed a petition seeking disciplinary action against former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, over alleged professional misconduct.

A private citizen, Daniel Kwame Ofosu-Appiah, petitioned the General Legal Council (GLC) to sanction Mr Dame for his alleged unethical conduct during the now-concluded ambulance procurement trial involving Minority Leader and Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa.

The petitioner claims that a leaked audio recording between Mr Dame and Mr Jakpa — which was admitted into evidence by an Accra High Court — reveals an attempt by the former Attorney-General to influence Mr Jakpa’s testimony.

This, the petitioner argues, violates legal ethics and undermines the integrity of the judicial process.

Mr Jakpa also testified in court that he met Mr Dame on four occasions at a private residence and exchanged WhatsApp messages with him.

Some of the messages reportedly involved requests for documents — all without the knowledge of Mr Jakpa’s lawyer and while the case was ongoing.

Citing the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423), the complainant accused Mr Dame of breaching seven professional standards, including dishonesty, misrepresentation, and improper communication with a represented party.

He also cited attempts to influence a witness, compromise the justice process, and actions likely to discredit the legal profession.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3’s KeyPoints on Saturday, May 24, Franklin Cudjoe said Mr Dame must treat the petition as a matter of personal accountability rather than political persecution.

“Godfred Dame must understand that in this instance, he is alone and the sins of the general NPP government, which obviously led us into others, will not be part of this legitimate action,” Mr Cudjoe stated.

“He should not see this as part of the persecution of the sins of the recent government that left power. He has to answer for his own sins. He should understand that this is personal responsibility for actions that he took. Nobody is persecuting him,” added the IMANI boss.