Ambulance trial: Court of Appeal acquits Cassiel Ato Forson, Jakpa

Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has been acquitted and discharged by the Court of Appeal.

The Member of Parliament was standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in an ambulance deal

In a 2-1 majority decision Tuesday morning [July 30, 2024], the second highest court of the land held that the prosecution handling the case did not establish a prima facie case for Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who is a former Deputy Minister of Finance to answer.

Dr Forson is currently the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and the Minority Leader in Parliament.

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

The court gave the decision Tuesday after it upheld an appeal by Dr. Forson challenging the decision of the trial High Court to dismiss his submission of no case.

Jakpa also acquitted

The court also acquitted and discharged Richard Jakpa, the business man who was standing trial together with the Minority Leader

Justices Kwaku  Ackah -Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah were on the majority side while Justice Alex Poku Acheampong dissented.

No guilty

Dr Forson was accused of causing financial loss during his time as Deputy Finance Minister in a deal to buy 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.

The Minority Leader and Jakpa both 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

Ato Forson and the ambulance saga

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 company, Jakpa at Business, was appointed as the local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company 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 company received payments for ambulances that did not meet specifications, resulting in a financial loss to the state.

The trial has been ongoing for several months, with both sides presenting evidence and witnesses. The court’s decision is eagerly awaited, as it will determine whether Jakpa and Dr Forson are liable for the alleged financial loss to the state.

Source: graphic