A Ghanaian citizen, Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta, has accused Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi of serious judicial misconduct, claiming the judge interfered in the legal proceedings in the high-profile ambulance case involving the then former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
In a petition submitted to President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Ofori-Atta alleged that Justice Kulendi violated his judicial oath by attempting to shield one of the accused, businessman Richard Jakpa, from prosecution.
According to Ofori-Atta in an interview on the Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, October 1, when the ambulance trial began in January 2023 and Jakpa struggled to meet bail conditions, Justice Kulendi personally approached then Attorney-General Godfred Dame, revealing that Jakpa was his cousin.
The judge allegedly urged Dame to either drop the charges or act in a way that would secure Jakpa’s freedom.
“The conduct of Justice Kulendi, seen in this light, clearly is an abuse of the judicial process. He violated his judicial oath by interfering in legal proceedings before the court,” Ofori-Atta stated.
But the interference did not stop there, the petitioner claims. He alleges that on four separate occasions, Justice Kulendi invited the Attorney-General to his private residence under the guise of discussing a personal matter.
During these meetings, Kulendi again pushed for the charges against Jakpa to be dropped. In one instance, Ofori-Atta says, Jakpa unexpectedly appeared at the residence—allegedly as part of a coordinated effort—further pressuring the Attorney-General.
“These repeated actions amount to a clear pattern of collusion between Justice Kulendi and Richard Jakpa to undermine legal proceedings and judicial integrity,” the petition states.
The petitioner has also lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), urging a full criminal probe into what he describes as an attempt to derail justice. He believes the actions of Justice Kulendi and Jakpa may constitute criminal conduct under Ghanaian law, particularly the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Ofori-Atta’s complaint to the CID is supported by trial transcripts dated June 6, 18, 20, and 27, 2024, along with WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by Jakpa to Godfred Dame during the trial. He claims these messages and records reveal a troubling pattern of behind-the-scenes interference.
“This is not just a matter of ethics; it’s a matter of law,” Ofori-Atta insists. “A Supreme Court judge must be held to the highest standard. When that trust is broken, public confidence in the justice system is at risk.”
The petition calls for Justice Kulendi’s removal from the bench and a full-scale investigation into the allegations.
So far, neither Justice Kulendi nor Richard Jakpa has publicly responded to the claims. The Presidency and CID have also not issued any official statement.
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