Ato Forson, Richard Jakpa freed in ambulance case

The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson businessman Richard Jakpa in the famous ambulance case.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson was standing trial for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in an ambulance deal.

In a 2-1 majority finding, a panel of three declared that Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe erred in her March 30, 2023, ruling on the submission of no case to answer, allowing the accused to begin their defence.

Judge Poku Acheampong presided over the request, which was approved by Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah, who also cleared and dismissed the accused.

As a result of the Court of Appeal’s ruling, Richard Jakpa and Ato Forson are now free.

Background

In order to increase the National Ambulance Service’s operational capacity, then-President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills announced intentions to buy more ambulances in 2009.

Big Sea General Trading Limited, a Dubai-based corporation, designated Jakpa’s company, Jakpa at Business, as its local representative in order to procure the ambulances.

The government and Stanbic Bank’s funding agreement was approved by Parliament, and Big Sea was granted letters of credit. But according to the government, Jakpa’s business was paid for ambulances that didn’t fit the state’s requirements, costing the money.

Both parties have been presenting evidence and witnesses during the trial, which has been going on for a few months.