Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, accused of causing a €2.37 million financial loss to the state, has closed his case in the ongoing trial.
Dr Forson, who doubles as the minority leader, is in court with Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa, a businessman.
Together, they are facing charges related to a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for Ghana between 2014 and 2016.
When the case was called on Thursday, November 16, Dr Forson’s counsel, Godwin Edudzie Tamakloe, informed the court that the defense would not call any further witnesses, stating, “We are closing our case.”
In all, the minority leader called three witnesses — Henry Myles Mills, Head of Dispute Resolution and Litigation at Stanbic Bank, Alex Mould, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Seth Terkper, former Minister for Finance in the erstwhile John Mahama administration — to support his case.
Following the closure of Dr Forson’s case, the second accused, Sylvester Anemana, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, has been instructed to mount the witness box to begin his defense.
The accused persons are to answer 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.
All three have since been granted bail after the court took their pleas.
They have pleaded not guilty to the various charges.
The case has been adjourned to November 21, 2023, for continuation.