Appeal Court Frees Ato Forson, Jakpa in Controversial Ambulance Case;

…Haruna Iddrisu Advises Defeated Dame Not to Pursue Case Further

An Appeal Court in Accra acquitted and discharged Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa in the controversial ambulance trial on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Accra High Court.

The court, in a 2:1 decision, set aside the order for Dr. Ato Forson, also serving as the Minority Leader in Parliament, to open his defense as previously instructed by the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe.

Justices Kwaku T Ackah-Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah formed the majority in the decision, with Justice Alex Poku Acheampong dissenting.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance under former President John Mahama’s government had been standing trial for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in connection to an ambulance deal.

The Appeal Court ruled that the prosecution led by Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame did not establish a prima facie case against Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ejumako Enyan Essiam.

Consequently, the court deemed it unnecessary for the trial High Court to call Dr. Forson to open his defense, overturning the previous directive.

In a parallel outcome, Richard Jakpa, a businessman implicated in the case alongside Dr. Forson, was also acquitted and discharged by the court.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong Peperah, had recently appeared in court to provide insights into Jakpa’s departure from the Ghana Armed Forces.

The High Court had earlier mandated Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to open his defense following the prosecution’s establishment of a prima facie case against him in the €2.37 million ambulance procurement scandal.

Dr. Forson faced allegations of causing financial loss during his tenure as Deputy Finance Minister in a deal to acquire 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016, among other charges.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has expressed dissatisfaction with the Appeal Court’s decision and intends to swiftly appeal the judgment in the Supreme Court.

The Office of the Attorney General criticized the acquittal, labeling it as unfair to the nation and detrimental to the fight against impunity and abuse of public office. Reacting to the ruling, former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu advised the Attorney General against pursuing the case further, cautioning that an appeal could lead to further disrepute.

Iddrisu celebrated the court’s decision in Parliament and advised the Attorney General to acknowledge defeat instead of prolonging the legal battle.

Richard Jakpa, on the other hand, lambasted the Attorney General, questioning his integrity and describing him as employing unfair tactics against those who do not align with his interests.

Jakpa expressed relief at the court’s decision, attributing his victory to upholding the rule of law while accusing the Minister of Justice of unjust behavior.

The saga surrounding the controversial ambulance procurement case continues to unfold, with the legal battle poised to escalate as the Attorney General seeks recourse in the Supreme Court.

This is a corrected version of the news article in Reuters style of writing, focusing on accuracy, clarity, and adherence to journalistic standards.