The court asks Ato Forson and two others to begin their defense by saying, “If you spent money on useless vehicles, then there is a case to answer.”
An Accra High Court has ordered Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson and two other defendants to present their defence in the ambulance case.
Together with former Health Ministry Chief Director Seth Anemana and businessman Richard Jakpa, Dr. Forson, who was a deputy minister of finance at the time the allegedly useless ambulances were purchased, is on trial.
They are accused of intentionally causing the state to suffer financial damage.
Judge Asare Botwe stated in court, “If you have spent money on a vehicle that cannot be used, then there is a matter to be answered.”
According to reports, while preparations were being made to finalize and sign the loan agreement… “in favor of Big Sea,” Dr. Forson, acting as deputy minister, wrote a letter to the Bank of Ghana requesting letters of credit for the purchase of 50 ambulances at a cost of €3,950,000, or 25% of the contract amount.
For the 30 faulty ambulances, a total of €2,370,000 has been paid.
Dr. Forson is also accused of writing a letter to the Controller and Accountant-General requesting that the Minister of Health be given access to GH$806,688.75 in order to pay the bank fees associated with the cost establishment of the LC for the supply of 50 Mercedes Benz ambulances and related services.
The former deputy minister of finance argued that Dr. Forson had the right to draft such a letter, notwithstanding the Attorney General’s contention to the contrary.
“It is a misreading of the law to claim that the AG should have called Seth Terkper to prove that Dr. Ato Forson did not have the authorization to draft the stated letter,” Judge Asare Botwe said in reference to the letter.
The court ruled that after the AG said that Dr. Forson lacked such authority and Dr. Forson responded that he did, Dr. Forson was required to demonstrate his authority.
On April 13, 2023, the case would be called once more.