Ambulance Case Ato Forson Acquitted And Discharged

The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, who is a representative for Big Sea have been accused of causing financial loss of euro;2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.

The Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 majority decision on Tuesday, July 30, ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case for the Minority Leader to answer.

The court made the decision today after upholding an appeal by Dr. Forson, challenging the trial High Court's dismissal of his submission of no case.

No Case

Ato Forson had argued that there was no case for him to answer, but this submission was initially rejected by the trial judge. Jakpa had similarly failed a similar submission of no case, and has since called a number of witnesses in his defence.

The Court of Appeal's decision now upholds Dr Ato Forson's submission.

Accordingly, the court held that there was no basis for the trial High Court to call Dr. Forson to open his defence.

Background

In 2009, the then-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, announced plans to purchase new ambulances to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service. Jakpa's organization, Jakpa at Business, was appointed as the local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a organization based in Dubai, to supply the ambulances.

Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank, and the letters of credit were established in favour of Big Sea. However, the government alleged that Jakpa's organization received payments for ambulances that did not meet specifications, resulting in a financial loss to the state.

Back To High Court

Following the Court of Appeals' ruling on Tuesday morning, the trial at the High Court resumes this afternoon, where the court would be served with the decision of the Court of Appeal.

It is expected that the Attorney General will indicate whether or not it intends to appeal the ruling by the Court of Appeal.



More soon. . . . .