Ato Forson obtains a court order requiring Alex Segbefia and other witnesses in the continuing trial to testify

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader, has obtained a court order requiring Alex Segbefia, the former minister of health, Seidu Kotomah, the former controller and accountant general, and Patrick Nimo, the former budget director at the ministry of health, to testify in support of the minority leader’s defence in the ongoing trial.

Dr. Ato Forson, who was ordered by the court to give his defence, has so far only summoned one witness, a Stanbic Bank officer who was served with a subpoena.

In spite of the fact that some of their witnesses had submitted witness statements, his legal team told the court that they had trouble getting the presence of their witnesses.

Seidu Kotomah, the second witness, was not there, which was regrettable and apologised for by the attorney for Dr. Ato Forson.

Other witnesses could not be reached despite our best efforts. The defence attorney expressed regret to the court, the Attorney General, other defence attorneys, and the clerks for the inconvenience.

“I apologise deeply for this terrible situation. I sincerely apologies. I apologise to the Attorney General, and I also owe a genuine apology to my colleagues defence attorneys and the clerks.

The legal team then asked for a writ of summons to be issued. Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe issued a warning, noting that issuing the summons would enable the court to issue an arrest order in the event that the witnesses fail to show up.

Dr. Aziz Bamba, the minority leader’s attorney, still went ahead and requested the summons despite the warning.

The three people’s request to be called was approved by the court:

1. Mr. Patrick Nimo, the current Chief Director of MESTI and a former Budget Director for the Ministry of Health.

2. The late Alex Segbefia, who served as health minister.

The third person is Mr. Seidu Kotomah, a former controller and accountant general.