The Member of Parliament of the Asante Akim-North Constituency, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has expressed confidence in the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Gofred Dame, to heed the advice of the trial judge and recuse himself in the ambulance purchase trial.
The Attorney-General was not in court on Tuesday and Thursday when the case was heard.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who was in court on Thursday, refused to confirm whether the A-G has heeded the judge’s “strong” advice to stay away from the case.
The trial judge, Justice Efia Serwah Asare-Botwey, advised that the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, recuse himself from the ongoing case in the interest of justice and the public.
However, Mr Dame speaking to reporters after the court ruling on Thursday, June 6, ignored the judge’s advice, indicating that he would continue to prosecute the case.
But the NPP lawmaker, Mr Appiah-Kubi speaking on The Key Points on Saturday, June 15, emphasized the need for the A-G to have recused himself prior to the advice from the trial judge.
He argued that Mr Dame being the A-G and Minister of Justice, his continuous stay on the case could be interpreted as being the judge in his own cause.
“This is a criminal trial and knowing yourself as not only the Attorney-General but Minister of Justice… I’m sure you don’t want to be a judge in your own court,” he said.
The Asante Akim-North lawmaker also expressed satisfaction with the trial judge’s advice to the A-G, saying, “That is what any good judge will do.”
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He continued, “Indeed he [Godfred Dame] should not have waited for the judge to advise him to do that. Once you are in a case like that and you have been singled out for the decisions of the court, then it means that you are not as competent as you were before.”
“The best thing for him to have done and I’m sure that the Attorney-General will heed this advice and I’m grateful that the judge also gave the advice.
“In fact, I would have been grateful at that point in time to come to court and say that because of the proceedings the way the evidence that is coming the implications that is bringing me into the matter in person, I recuse myself and then let somebody else come and continue.
“I would have done that but all be it that he didn’t do it and the judge called his attention to it… I am positive he will adhere to that advice and recuse himself,” he stated.
Additionally, Mr Appiah-Kubi criticised the Deputy Attorney-General about his comments on the significance or otherwise of the admissibility of the leaked audio recording between the third accused Richard Jakpa and Godfred Dame.
He described the comments as “unnecessary”, stressing that the admissibility of evidence is based on its relevance; if the trial judge thinks it is relevant, he or she is supported by law to admit it.
