A Ghanaian citizen has heightened the controversy surrounding the high-profile ambulance case by filing a petition to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), calling for a criminal probe into Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi and businessman Richard Jakpa.
The underlying matter, Republic v. Cassiel Ato Forson & 2 Others, centered on allegations of financial loss to the state over the procurement of 200 ambulances under the Mahama administration. Initiated during the Akufo-Addo era by then-Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, the case was later dropped by the new government after the 2024 elections, with all accused persons acquitted. Richard Jakpa, one of the defendants, was subsequently appointed Director of Operations at the National Security Council.
On July 23, 2025, Jakpa himself petitioned the CID, accusing Mr. Dame of attempting to influence his testimony against Dr. Ato Forson, now Minister of Finance. Jakpa claimed to have attached a recording of a March 2024 phone call as proof.
Now, in a separate petition dated September 29, 2025, Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta from Kyebi alleges that both Justice Kulendi and Jakpa engaged in conduct that amounted to interference with the administration of justice. He asserts that Justice Kulendi used his position to shield his cousin, Jakpa, from full prosecution.
The complaint outlines four key claims:
- Day of Arraignment: Jakpa allegedly sought Kulendi’s intervention on January 18, 2023, leading the judge to request the A-G’s office to allow him home despite not meeting bail conditions.
- Direct Access: Trial records show Jakpa admitted under cross-examination to obtaining Dame’s phone number from Kulendi, after which he sent numerous WhatsApp messages and repeatedly sought meetings.
- Imbalanced Communication: Evidence presented at trial revealed Jakpa sent 68 WhatsApp messages to Dame, who responded only twice. These exchanges were tendered as evidence in June 2024.
- Private Meetings: The most serious allegation claims Kulendi invited Dame to his residence on at least four occasions, secretly including Jakpa in the discussions and pressing Dame to halt or weaken the prosecution.
Ofori-Atta argues that these acts point to a deliberate scheme “not only dishonourable but criminal” under Ghana’s Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). He is urging the CID to launch a full investigation and pursue charges if necessary.
The petition includes supporting materials such as WhatsApp records and trial documents from June 2024, with Ofori-Atta pledging to provide further assistance to investigators if required.
Read the full petition below:
