- Judge warns against public commentary.
- Allegations of false testimony made.
- Accusations of €2.37 million financial loss.
The Court of Appeal judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, on Monday cautioned parties in the ongoing trial of the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in the ambulance case, to desist from making commentary pending the determination of the case.
The judge issued the caution following commentaries made by persons connected to the parties in the media. At the last sitting, Mr. Richard Jakpa, the third accused, stated on oath that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, wanted him to give false testimony against Dr. Forson.
Justice Asare-Botwe emphasized that those commentaries must cease and cautioned the prosecution and defense that “if anyone will make any commentary, which looks like scandalizing the court in any way, it will not be well.”
The judge further stated, “At the end of the day, the public does not have a decision to make, the only person who has a decision to make is yours truly (me), so please allow me to have peace of mind to be able to make a decision.”
Meanwhile, the lawyer for Dr. Forson, Mr. Thaddeus Sory, has filed a stay of proceedings before the court, and the case has been adjourned to June 4 for the court to rule on the application for stay of proceedings.
Dr. Forson and Jakpa have been accused of causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016. They have pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.
According to the A-G’s facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.
Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government. Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank.
The facts stated that on November 19, 2012, Dr. Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances. They added that on August 7, 2014, Dr. Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for letters of credit covering €3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favor of Big Sea.
The letters of credit were accordingly released to Big Sea. The facts said 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of €2.37 million, but all were found not to have met ambulance specifications and therefore “not fit for purpose.”
