Richard Jakpa
Another report from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) casts further shadows on claims by businessman Richard Jakpa that he was released from the army because his services were no longer needed.
A document tendered in the €2.37 million ‘defective’ ambulances trial yesterday clearly shows that Jakpa’s stay with the army prior to his dismissal was “not only unacceptable but smacks of indiscipline, lackadaisical and unprofessional.”
Air Commodore Nana Adu-Gyamfi, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff of the GAF, who tendered the documents, told the court that the content of the report in evidence will show that Jakpa was not honourably released from the army.
Mr. Jakpa had subpoenaed Air Commodore Adu-Gyamfi and requested that he appeared in court with a special report on him (accused) during his stay in the army and another one regarding his indebtedness during his time of service.
Counsel for Jakpa, Thaddeus Sory, during his questioning of Air Commodore Adu-Gyamfi, did not request for the subpoenaed documents but questioned the witness regarding a release letter which accused Jakpa of consistent fraudulent conduct, among others.
But Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, during cross-examination had the two documents tendered in evidence through the subpoenaed witness without any objections from defence counsel.
The Attorney General then asked the witness to read the two documents to the hearing of the entire court.
The report indicated that Jakpa appeared before his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel K. Oppong Otchere twice – October 1, 2001 and September 4, 2022.
The first interview with his commanding officer was as a result of him parking a military vehicle overnight at his home outside the barracks.
It indicates that the vehicle was detailed with a driver but Jakpa took the vehicle to his house, sacked the driver to go home while the vehicle remained parked at his house.
The second interview was as a result of Jakpa’s failure to return to his Unit, 2 Independent Recce Squadron, Sunyani after taking part in Officer’s Practical Promotion Examination in 2002.
It said Squadron Leaders of 2 Recce Squadron at different times submitted reports of indiscipline on Jakpa, with the first dated January 18, 2022, submitted by Captain E. Owusu-Ansah, the then Squadron Leader, after Jakpa attended a course in Accra and failed to return to the Unit after the course.
“In addition to these acts of indiscipline and unprofessional behaviour, the Officer has been involved in a case of indebtedness to local Lebanese businessman, one Mr. Tarek Ezziddine to a tune of $400 when he served with UNFIL GH 57,” the document pointed out.
It further states that it was upon strong messages from GHANCON Headquarters that Mr. Jakpa settled the amount.
“Prior to this case, a Ghanaian local brought a case before me where items including moneys were given to him from Béirut by Ghanaians residing there. The items and the moneys were not delivered until he was instructed to do so,” the reports stated.
It also indicates that Mr. Jakpa was nominated to attend orientation course from May 3 to 28, 2004, but he only attended classes for three days in week one and once each in weeks two and three, leading to him being charged for AWOL (absent without official leave but without intent to desert).
It also pointed out that there were several undocumented acts of indiscipline and misconduct on the part of Jakpa, which both officers and men of the regiment could attest to.
For these reasons, the report concluded that the conduct of Jakpa in the regiment “without doubt seem to have reached its climax since both formal interviews and informal talks were not yielding any results.”
Asked by the Attorney General whether Jakpa got a copy of the report, the witness said yes, he did.
Indebtedness
Air Commodore Adu-Gyamfi was then asked by the Attorney General to read the document regarding Jakpa’s indebtedness.
According to the document, Jakpa was granted a loan of $300 from the Unit PRI in 2004.
It said the money was granted to the accused “at a time when financially, he was in dire straits.”
“After a series of informal and formal interviews between 2005 and 2007 on his indebtedness, the officer has now confirmed his inability to repay the loan.”
The report said the matter was of serious concern to the then commanding officer, firstly because the officer’s name regularly reflects as a debtor in the unit’s financial records and audit reports.
“Secondly, whereas other ranks who benefit from the same loan facility repay on time, Lt R. Jakpa unfortunately cannot do so,” the report said.
It added that to address this problem, a request was made to authority for the cedi equivalent of $300 to be deducted in full from Jakpa’s salary in June 7, and paid to Recce Regiment PRI Account “to put an end to this shameful and regrettable situation.”
“From what you have testified to, would you say the third accused was honourably released from the army?” Mr. Dame asked.
Air Commodore Adu-Gyamfi, in his response, said based on the content of the documents, Jakpa “was not honourably released from the Army.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak