'Lack of knowledge or interest' - CDS explains what warranted military release of Jakpa

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance trial.

According to Lieutenant General Oppong-Peprah, Jakpa was released from the military due to a continuous lack of knowledge or interest in his duties.

During his testimony in court, Lieutenant General Oppong-Peprah emphasized that the decision to discharge Jakpa was not taken lightly.

He stressed that Jakpa's persistent inability to demonstrate the necessary expertise and commitment to his role in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) ultimately led to his dismissal.

"The said former officer of the military, Richard Jakpa, was released based on lack of knowledge or interest," he told the court.

This clarification comes amid the controversy surrounding a letter purportedly detailing Jakpa’s dismissal, which the CDS denied releasing to the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul.

In the ongoing trial, the Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, introduced the dismissal letter as evidence while cross-examining Jakpa.

The letter, allegedly from the office of the Defense Minister, cited misconduct and breaches of military protocols as reasons for Jakpa's dismissal in 2007.

Despite objections from Jakpa's lawyers regarding the relevance of the letter, the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, admitted it into evidence, stating that Richard Jakpa had acknowledged the document and could speak to its contents.

Lieutenant General Oppong-Peprah's testimony provided further insight into the rationale behind Jakpa’s dismissal.

He further underscored that the Ghana Armed Forces maintains high standards and that personnel are expected to continually demonstrate proficiency and dedication to their duties.

Jakpa's failure to meet these expectations, according to the CDS, warranted his release from the military, a report by myjoyonline.com has said.

AE