Court Frees Ato Forson, Richard Jakpa In Controversial Ambulance Saga
The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, former Deputy Minister of Finance and current Minority Leader in Parliament, in a high-profile case involving the procurement of ambulances for Ghana. The decision, made by a 3-member panel of the Court of Appeal, overturns the earlier ruling by the trial court which had ordered Dr. Forson to present his defense.
Dr. Forson confirmed the news via a WhatsApp broadcast message:
“The Court of Appeal has just acquitted and discharged Hon. Ato Forson. The order for Dr. Ato Forson to open his defense by the trial Court in the ongoing ambulance case has been set aside by the Court of Appeal. In short, Hon. Ato Forson’s submission of no case has been upheld.”
According to GHOne TV, the appellate decision was a 2-1 majority ruling, stating that Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s March 30th, 2023, decision requiring Dr. Forson and his co-accused, businessman Richard Jakpa, to open their defense was in error. This effectively clears Dr. Forson and Jakpa of the charges without the need for them to present a defense.
The original case accused Dr. Forson and Richard Jakpa, a representative for Big Sea, of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016. This acquittal marks a significant development in the legal proceedings, exonerating Dr. Forson and Jakpa from the allegations.
The ruling by the Court of Appeal not only sets aside the trial court’s order but also signifies that Dr. Forson’s submission of no case, previously rejected by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, has now been accepted. This pivotal decision removes the requirement for Dr. Forson to present any further defense in this matter.
This development is seen as a major legal victory for Dr. Forson, who has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. The acquittal and discharge by the Court of Appeal underscore the importance of due process and judicial review in ensuring fair trials and just outcomes in the legal system.