Lawyers for Richard Jakpa, the businessman involved in the ambulance purchase case, have indicated to the High Court that, the accused person, plans to call eight defense witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court in the ongoing case against him and former deputy minister of finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Meanwhile, the Court has directed the accused to file the witness statement of the witnesses, while the court adjourns to May 2, for the continuation of the case.
The two accused persons are being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in a 2.37-million-euro, ambulance purchase case between 2014 and 2016.
Thaddeus Sory, becomes the second lawyer to represent Richard Jakpa, in the case after the accused person fired his previous lawyer, Thomas Aubynn. Mr. Sory told the Court in chambers that they intend to call eight potential witnesses.
With that information, the trial Judge – a Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Afia Serwaah Asare-Botwe who is hearing the case as an additional High Court Judge, directed Mr. Sory, to file all witness statements by April 30.
The Court further directed that, witnesses whose statements would not be filed, are to ensure documents they intend to rely on are filed and also any document to be tendered by the accused, that is, Richard Jakpa, are filed by April 16.
Mr. Jakpa, opened his defense on Tuesday March 19, where he told the Court, he was sidelined in the execution of the contract and so should not be a part of the trial. The Court, had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Jakpa, on March 21, after he failed to appear before the court for health reasons. The Court on a later date, said one of its officers, had visited the hospital and confirmed that Mr. Jakpa was on admission there.
Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state, in a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges. T
he ambulances, according to court documents, are ordinary buses which are not fit for purpose as they do not have the needed equipment that an ambulance requires. The prosecution, led by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, closed its case on February 14, 2023 after calling five witnesses, including former Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu to prove its case.
Issues put forward during the prosecution’s case was whether the defective vehicles were purchased in accordance with the purchase agreement approved by Parliament, and also whether Dr. Forson was authorised by the substantive Finance Minister or any superior officer to write a letter to the Controller and Accountant-General, directing the establishment of irrevocable letters of credit (LCs) which led to the payments.
