The Attorney General’s department has confirmed that lawyers representing Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, have endorsed a request by a third party to settle the €2.3 million ambulance case.
This move could lead to the withdrawal of the criminal trial against the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam legislator and two others.
The case in question revolves around allegations of causing financial loss to the state in a faulty ambulance deal. Dr. Ato Forson, who formerly served as the Deputy Finance Minister, has been accused of issuing letters of credit for the purchase of 50 faulty ambulances without proper authorization. However, he vehemently denies these allegations.
The court has ordered Dr. Ato Forson to submit his defence because the state has already made its case. The former health minister Alex Segbefia and his former boss Seth Terkper will be among the four witnesses he will call. He has already summoned two witnesses.
A third person who was not directly associated with the prosecution offered to reimburse the cost of the ambulances and have the case dropped during this legal dispute. This third party initially sent two distinct letters to the Attorney General’s office; however, because they did not want to interact with uninvolved parties, they invited the accused parties to comment on the offer.
Subsequently, lawyers representing some of the accused parties endorsed the third-party offer, expressing their support for the money to be returned in exchange for withdrawing the case. Notably, Dr. Ato Forson’s legal team also wrote a letter affirming their support for the third-party proposal.
The Attorney General’s department is now considering this request, and the fate of the ongoing criminal trial hangs in the balance. This development has added an intriguing twist to a case that has garnered significant attention and controversy.
Stay connected to happyghana.com for further updates on this developing story as the Attorney General’s department deliberates on the third-party offer and its potential impact on the legal proceedings involving Dr. Ato Forson and his co-accused.