Ambulance purchase trial: There is ample evidence to prosecute Ato Forson – NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that there is ample evidence to prosecute former Deputy Minister of Finance and Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.

Dr. Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana and private businessman Richard Jakpa are standing trial for willfully causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.

The state has, however, discontinued the case against Sylvester Amemana.

During court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, Mr Jakpa alleged that the Attorney-General has been engaging him severally to help him implicate Dr Ato Forson in his testimony.

“The A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 [Ato Forson] and I have evidence for that.. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 [Ato Forson] when I’m here to defend myself,” Jakpa fumed in open court.

Moreover, the NDC on Tuesday released an audio recording purported to be a conversation between the third accused and Mr Dame.

Excerpts of the audio played by the National Chairman of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, captured the yet-to-be-authenticated voice of the Attorney-General, asking Mr Jakpa to seek a medical excuse to skip court proceedings pending his return to the country.

The party has since called for the “unconditional and immediate dismissal” of Mr Dame.

“Considering the scandalous nature of this recording and other forms of evidence we have shown you, we wish to make the following pressing demands as part of efforts to restore credibility to the Attorney-General’s office and Ghana’s judicial system as a whole.

Excerpts of the audio played by the National Chairman of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, captured the yet-to-be-authenticated voice of the Attorney-General, asking Mr Jakpa to seek a medical excuse to skip court proceedings pending his return to the country.

The party has since called for the “unconditional and immediate dismissal” of Mr Dame.

“Considering the scandalous nature of this recording and other forms of evidence we have shown you, we wish to make the following pressing demands as part of efforts to restore credibility to the Attorney-General’s office and Ghana’s judicial system as a whole.