Attorney General criticizes Court of Appeal decision in Ambulance case [Listen]

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The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has criticized the 2:1 majority decision by the Court of Appeal that quashed the controversial trial of the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa.

The two were accused of causing financial loss to the state in a €2.37 million deal to purchase 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.

The Court of Appeal ruled that, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa had no case to answer, overturning an earlier decision by the trial High Court.

This earlier decision had required Richard Jakpa to call several witnesses.

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, Mr. Yeboah Dame described the decision as “unreasonable” and against the assessments of all relevant authorities.

“The decision clearly is heavily against the weight of the cogent evidence led by the prosecution in substantiation of all the charges against the accused persons at the trial” he stressed.

The Attorney General said his office would challenge the court’s ruling.

“The Office of the Attorney-General considers the decision of the Court of Appeal grossly unfair to the nation and inimical to the fight against impunity and abuse in public office” he added.

Mr. Yeboah Dame assured that an appeal would be promptly filed to nullify the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

“The Office will promptly file an appeal in order to erase the effect of this erroneous decision of the Court of Appeal,” he stated.

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