In a major development in the ongoing ambulance trial, Mr Richard Jakpa, the third accused, has disclosed that he had multiple meetings with Attorney General Godfred Dame. 

This revelation comes after Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe allowed an audio conversation between Mr Jakpa and Mr Dame into evidence, paving the way for an extensive cross-examination by the lawyers representing Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, the first accused.

Mr Jakpa testified that he met Mr Dame on four occasions, all at the residence of his cousin, Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi. 

These meetings, he noted, took place between 9:30 pm and 11:30 pm.

Detailing the timeline, Mr Jakpa mentioned that two of these meetings occurred in 2022, specifically in February and July. 

Under cross-examination, he recounted that the first meeting, held on February 16, 2020, was at his own request. 

Mr Jakpa explained that he sought to clarify the charges against him and demonstrate their baselessness to the Attorney General. During this initial meeting, Mr Jakpa said Mr Dame allegedly assured him that he would be discharged during the ruling on the submission of no case.

The second meeting in July 2022, however, was initiated by a call from Justice Kulendi, inviting Mr Jakpa to meet the Attorney General. 

Mr Jakpa stated that he decided to cooperate with Mr Dame based on the prior assurances of his discharge.

At this meeting, he said Mr Dame requested documents that he (Mr Jakpa) had previously submitted to the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

Mr Jakpa said he complied, providing an addendum to the main contract for ambulance supply and a letter from former Health Minister Alex Segbefia, which nominated government officials to travel to Dubai to discuss contract-related issues with the company Big Sea.

Mr Jakpa's intent in sharing these documents, he claimed, was to convince the Attorney General of his innocence.

Mr Jakpa also revealed a subsequent meeting in March 2024, just days before he began his defence, as well as another meeting before the ruling on the submission of no case in 2023.

He also told the court that Mr Dame confided in him that he was targeting Dr Ato Forson with the prosecution and not him (Jakpa).