The Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah has confirmed to the Financial and Economic Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe that the Minister for Defence has the right to release to a public officer documents relating to a staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The CDS in his answers to questions posed by Mr Jakpa’s lawyer who had subpoenaed him, noted that the Armed Forces is made up of the Military Division and the Civilian Division.
The CDS stated that he is in charge of the military wing of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence is in charge of the administrative or civilian wing of the GAF.
He further stated that both his office and that of the Chief Director are answerable to the Minister of Defence.
They both answer to the Minister for Defence who is their boss.
To this end, the Minister of Defence can release a document to another public officer such as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General and the Minister for Defence would not necessarily have to consult the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) before doing so.
Mr Jakpa and his lawyers led by Thaddeus Sory, had subpoenaed the army chief to testify in support of Mr Jakpa’s case and to prove, among others, that the document tendered in evidence by the Attorney-General, was not properly obtained from the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.
After the lawyer for Richard Jakpa led the witness to give his evidence in chief, the lawyer for Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr Abdul Bassit Bamba took his turn to cross-examine the CDS.
When he concluded his cross-examination, the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame cross-examined the CDS, Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah.
