- Dr. Ato Forson and two others face trial for €2.37m financial loss.
- Ambulance deal lacked parliamentary approval.
- €2.37m paid for defective vehicles.
Businessman Richard Jakpa, Executive Chairman of Jakpa Business Limited (JBL), has testified in court that his company played no role in the controversial ambulance deal that allegedly caused a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state. Jakpa, who is charged alongside Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, told the High Court that JBL dropped out of the transaction as soon as Big Sea signed the contract with the government to supply 200 ambulances and accessories.
Led by his lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, Jakpa explained that JBL was only an agent representing Big Sea and was not a party to the contract between Big Sea and the government. He emphasized that the government ceased dealing with JBL after signing the contract with Big Sea, and it was mutually understood that JBL’s relationship with the government would no longer exist.
Jakpa stated that JBL did not sign the contract and had no obligations regarding the delivery of the ambulances, including quantity and quality. He added that even if Big Sea had any obligations related to the contract, such obligations would only arise in the context of JBL’s obligations to Big Sea as its agent.
In his witness statement, Jakpa clarified that the contract made no provision for JBL to undertake any obligations or receive payment from the government regarding the transaction. He emphasized that JBL owed no responsibility to the government regarding the delivery of the ambulances by Big Sea.
Jakpa’s testimony aimed to establish that JBL was not involved in the ambulance deal and should not be held liable for any alleged financial loss to the state. The case continues with the prosecution seeking to prove that Jakpa and Dr. Ato Forson caused financial loss to the state through the ambulance deal.
