High Court Sets Deadline for Ato Forson Case Verdict

The Accra High Court is slated to render its judgment in the trial involving Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson and two co-defendants accused of causing the state a financial loss of €2.37 million, prior to July 31.

In a recent development, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe emphasized the importance of concluding proceedings before the legal recess, urging all involved parties to adhere to designated timelines.

This directive follows a request from Dr. Aziz Basit Bamba, granted by the judge, for additional time to review a recently received witness statement.

The trial, adjourned until May 9, 2024, revolves around allegations that Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana, a former chief director at the Ministry of Health, and entrepreneur Richard Jakpa, deliberately caused financial harm to the state through a contract concerning the procurement of 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health.

Court documents reveal that the procured vehicles, classified as ordinary buses, lack the necessary ambulance equipment, raising questions about their suitability for the intended purpose.

Led by Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame and director of public prosecutions Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa, the prosecution concluded its case on February 14, 2023, after presenting five witnesses, including former Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.

During proceedings, the prosecution highlighted key concerns, including whether the purchase of faulty vehicles adhered to approved parliamentary agreements and whether Ato Forson had proper authorization to initiate payment processes.

In defense, Ato Forson called upon three witnesses, including banking official Henry Myles Mills, and former Finance Ministers Alex Mould and Seth Terkper.

Terkper, a pivotal witness for Forson, affirmed in court that he authorized Forson’s actions regarding the establishment of letters of credit, attributing them to Ministry of Finance directives. However, under cross-examination by Attorney General Dame, Terkper conceded that payments for the defective ambulances were made erroneously.