The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), through the Military Secretary, Air Commodore Nana Adu Gyamfi, has presented evidence in court regarding the conduct of the third accused, Richard Jakpa.
The evidence includes two letters titled “Special Report on Conduct of Lieutenant RA Jakpa (GH/28991)” and “Indebtedness – Officer LT R Jakpa (GH/2899).”
Testifying in court on Thursday, July 18, 2024, the Military Secretary, Air Commodore Nana Adu Gyamfi, appeared as a subpoena witness for Jakpa.
He stated that Mr. Jakpa was not honorably discharged from the military. State Prosecutors had presented documents indicating that Mr. Jakpa was dismissed from the military for misconduct. In response, a subpoena was issued for the Military Secretary and the Chief of Defence Staff to testify.
While reading the contents of the documents regarding Jakpa’s conduct, the Military Secretary said, “The Officer (Jakpa) has been involved in a case of indebtedness to a local Lebanese businessman, Mr. Tarek Ezziddine, amounting to Four Hundred US Dollars ($400.00) when he served with UNIFIL GH 57.”
The documents highlighted several instances of misconduct:
- First Interview (02 October 2001): Jakpa parked a military vehicle overnight at his home outside the barracks, dismissing the driver and leaving the vehicle at his house.
- Second Interview (04 September 2002): Jakpa failed to return to his Unit, 2 Independent Recce Squadron, Sunyani, after participating in the Officer’s Practical Promotion Examination 2002. Reports of indiscipline were submitted by Squadron Leaders Captain E. Owusu-Ansah (18 January 2002) and Captain B. Gah (28 June 2002) for failing to return to his Unit after attending a course in Accra and the Officer’s Practical Promotion Examination 2002, respectively.
The Military Secretary further read a second letter, detailing Jakpa’s financial misconduct:
- Loan of $300.00: Lt. Jakpa was granted a loan of $300.00 from the Unit PRI in 2004 due to financial difficulties. Despite a series of interviews between 2005 and 2007, Jakpa confirmed his inability to repay the loan.
- Impact on Unit Financial Records: The CO expressed serious concern as Jakpa’s name regularly appeared as a debtor in Unit financial records and audit reports. Unlike other ranks who repaid their loans on time, Jakpa failed to do so.
- Resolution: The CO requested authority to deduct the Cedi equivalent of $300.00 from Jakpa’s salary in June 2007 to settle the debt.
Richard Jakpa, a businessman, is on trial alongside Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, accused of willfully causing financial loss to the Republic amounting to 2.37 million euros following the purchase of ambulances.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty and are being tried before Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge.
Both the Prosecution and Dr. Forson have closed their cases, with Mr. Jakpa now calling his witnesses.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Murtala Inusah
