The Military High Command has confirmed that the 3rd accused in the ongoing ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, was dismissed from the Ghana Armed Forces based on persistent offences and acts of misconduct.
Richard Jakpa vehemently denied ever seeing the supposed letter confirming his dismissal from the military since he left the service 17 years ago.
Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah on Thursday, June 27, tendered in evidence Richard Jakpa’s supposed dismissal letter from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Mr Jakpa’s lawyers argue these claims aim to discredit his testimony in the trial involving the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
In court on Thursday, July 18, Secretary to the Military High Command and custodian of documents at the Ghana Armed Forces, Nana Adu Gyamfi discounted Richard Jakpa’s allegation that he was never given a letter relating to his dismissal.
According to Nana Adu Gyamfi, Mr Jakpa was dismissed based on inefficiency through lack of application and interest. He contended that his service with the Military Colours was largely marked with indiscipline and fraudulent misconduct.
Addressing the issue of whether or not the alleged misconducts were stated in the document and copied to Mr Jakpa, Nana Adu averred that the military does not put out offences in release instructions.
“Before such a letter would be written about an officer, he would have been taken through a series of processes. When officers commit offences, there are several interviews conducted. These interviews are documented and kept on record. These records are kept, and if nothing happens again, the records are discarded. But if the conduct continues then, the document is referred to in sanctioning the officer. Formal and informal interviews of the accused did not yield any results hence his dismissal”, he explained.
He continued, “Upon persistent offenses and misconducts, such a letter is written. The misconduct of the said officer will be at the officer’s unit before the unit will write to the general administration.”
The conduct of Mr Jakpa in the regiment over the period, he said, was not only unacceptable but smacked of indiscipline.
He recounted a series of misconducts kept on the records of Mr Jakpa.
“Mr Jakpa failed to return to his unit after taking part in officers’ promotion exams. After attending the course in Accra he failed to return to the unit. In addition to these acts, he was indebted to the tune of 400 dollars involving a Lebanese, an act that became notorious in his unit and the whole military command because of his refusal to repay the money to the businessman. This was settled by an officer.”
Asked whether Mr Jakpa was given a copy of the letter, Mr Adu Gyamfi confirmed that “Lieutenant Jakpa”, the third accused was given a copy of that report.
Mr Adu Gyamfi also revealed what was contained in one report which he said Mr Jakpa had a copy of.
“He was granted a loan of $400 from the unit PRI. The money was granted to the officer (Richard Jakpa) when he was in financial difficulties. Upon persistent demands, he failed to pay the loan. In 2007, the money was converted into cedis and was deducted from his salary.”
The document of his indebtedness in 2004 was tended into evidence by the prosecution. The court, thus, admitted the document on his indebtedness into evidence.
The witness, Air Commodore Nana Adu Gyamfi was discharged.
Upon his discharge, counsel for the accused contended that they still needed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) himself to answer some questions. This was objected to by the Attorney General saying the CDS at this material moment is not a material witness.
But the court indicated that judging from the nature of the case being criminal, if the accused says he needed the CDS, their wishes should be granted.
The case was adjourned to July 23, 2024, after the list of persons who have been invited to testify before the court was thoroughly discussed. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin; Alex Segbefia, and Samuel Silas Mensah are among the persons due to mount the witness box.
