In a significant development, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has abandoned the criminal appeals filed at the Supreme Court by his predecessor, Godfred Yeboah Dame against Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa.
The appeal filed by Godfred Yeboah Dame last year sought to reverse the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge Dr. Ato Forson, former Deputy Minister for Finance, and businessman Richard Jakpa.
The Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 majority decision on July 30, 2024, set Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa free.
They were accused of causing financial loss to the state in the sum of €2.37m, along with Dr. Sylvester Anemana, who was discharged in the cause of the trial at the High Court due to ill health.
Dr. Ayine, who was sworn in as the new Attorney General on January 22, 2025, filed a Notice of withdrawal at the Supreme Court to abandon the appeal.
The initial appeal was filed by Godfred Yeboah Dame, who was unhappy with the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge the accused.
However, with Dr. Ayine’s decision to abandon the appeal, the acquittal and discharge of Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa now stand.
“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Republic having previously served notice of appeal to appeal to the Court against the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on the 30th day of July 2024 hereby give(s) you NOTICE that the Republic does not intend further to prosecute the appeal, but that the Republic abandons all further proceedings with respect to this matter as from the date of this notice,” the AG noticed signed on January 23, 2025 but filed on January 24, 2025 stated.
This decision marks a significant shift in the government’s stance on the case and it becomes the second high profile case that charges have been withdrawn.
On Tuesday, January 28, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni former Chief Executive of COCOBOD and businessman Alhaji Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana were acquitted and discharged following a similar decision by the AG.
