The Financial and Economic Court 2 division of the High Court in Accra, has issued an arrest warrant for Businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the 2.37 million euro, ambulance purchase case. Mr. Jakpa, opened his defense on Tuesday March 19, and was expected to continue on Thursday afternoon, however, the businessman failed to show up in Court, on alleged health grounds. Richard Jakpa and minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, are being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the purchase of some 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.
On Thursday afternoon when the case was called, the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, announced to the court, that a WhatsApp document, had been forwarded, purported to be a medical excuse from a private hospital, which indicated that the accused person, Richard Jakpa, was unwell and could not be present in Court. While the Court was concerned about the health of the accused person, it expressed, reservations about the document, because in its opinion, the document, did not qualify as a medical certificate. According to Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, the document, which was sent via WhatsApp, did not disclose any condition suffered by the accused person and also did not include a doctor’s signature.
The Court, ruling on the matter, said, it had to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Jakpa, because currently, he has no legal representation and so there was no way of getting instructions to him. On Tuesday, prior to mounting the witness box, Mr. Jakpa, informed the Court that he had relieved his lawyer, Thomas Aubynn, of his services. He then went to open his defense in the matter. Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, before adjourning hearing on that day, ordered the accused, to ensure that his new lawyer, was fully informed on proceedings ahead of Thursday’s hearing and also be present for the day’s hearing. However, neither the accused nor a legal representative, was present in court, forcing the Court, to issue a warrant for his arrest, pending an explanation from him on the next adjourned date.
Dr Cassiel Forson, who is also the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, is standing trial with Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, for allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for Ghana between 2014 and 2016. They have, however, pleaded not guilty to five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property. The case has been adjourned to Tuesday March 26, 2024, for continuation.
