In the latest development, the Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and Richard Jakpa, the 3rd accused in the ongoing ambulance case.
This decision reversed the previous ruling of the trial court, which mandated Dr. Ato Forson and Jakpa to present their defense.
The duo had been charged with allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to procure ambulances for the Government of Ghana.
The Court of Appeal’s decision overturns the trial court’s ruling, issued by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, that dismissed Ato Forson’s submission of no case and instructed him to present his defense.
Dr. Ato Forson argued that there was no case for him to answer, but the trial judge initially rejected this submission. Similarly, Jakpa failed to submit no case and has since called many witnesses in his defense.
The Court of Appeal has now upheld Dr. Ato Forson’s submission.
Due to this latest development, Dr. Ato Forson is no longer required to open his defence in the ongoing trial, marking a significant development in the case.
Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, a representative for Big Sea, have been accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state.
The accusation is related to a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
The trial at the High Court resumes Tuesday afternoon, where the court will be served with the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General is also expected to indicate whether or not it intends to appeal the ruling by the Court of Appeal.
