Ambulance Case: CDS confirms Jakpa was a bad example in military
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Lt. Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has told the High Court, Accra, that Richard Jakpa was a bad example in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Testifying in the case of the Republic versus Cassiel Ato Forson and two others, otherwise known as the ambulance trial, the CDS said Jakpa, who is the third accused in the case, was dishonourably released from the military due to gross indiscipline and misconduct.
Earlier in the trial, Jakpa had rejected a document the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame tendered into evidence which indicated that he was dishonourably released from the military when he served as an officer because of gross indiscipline and misconduct.
According to the third accused, he was rather honourably discharged.
To prove his case, Jakpa, through his lawyers, subpoenaed Lt. Gen. Oppong-Peprah to testify in support of his case.
Answering questions from the Attorney General, the CDS told the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, on Monday, July 29, 2024, “As per the documents on record I would say he [Jakpa] was not honourably released”.
No wrongdoing
In answer to a question from Jakpa’s lawyer, the CDS said the Minister of Defence did no wrong in releasing the military records of Jakpa to the Attorney General.
Explaining, Lt. Col. Oppong-Peprah said per official arrangements, both his office and that of the chief director of the Ministry of Defence answer to the Minister of Defence.
He further told the court that Jakpa was not placed on the retired list, and is therefore not permitted to use his rank in civil life, thus, confirming that he [Jakpa] was, indeed, not released from the military honorably.
Lt. Gen. Oppong-Peprah also confirmed in answer to questions by the Attorney-General, that, Jakpa was summarily tried by an Appropriate Superior Authority and was severely reprimanded before he was released from the Armed Forces.
The case was adjourned to today, July 30, 2024, for Jakpa to call his next witness.
