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Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has vehemently justified his decision to discontinue the trial of Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, categorizing the case as a politically motivated prosecution bereft of legal merit.
In a press address on Wednesday, February 12, 2024, Dr. Ayine revealed that upon assuming office and reviewing the case, he discovered no plausible grounds to proceed with the trial.
He unequivocally stated, “I believed then, and still believe now, that Hon. Ato Forson was a victim of a political witch-hunt and that he has no case to answer in this trial.”
Dr. Ayine’s stance was further reinforced by the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which overturned the trial court’s decision to call on the accused persons to open their defense.
He astutely observed, “That position was vindicated by the erudite judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ruled that the trial court erred in calling upon the accused persons to mount their defense.”
The Attorney-General’s decision to discontinue the contentious ambulance procurement case involving Dr. Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa was formally solidified in a notice issued by his office two weeks prior. The case revolved around allegations of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million in a deal to procure 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.
Dr. Ato Forson, as Deputy Finance Minister at the time, approved letters of credit on behalf of then Finance Minister Seth Terkper for the procurement, while Mr. Jakpa acted as the local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, the Dubai-based supplier. Prosecutors alleged that 30 ambulances delivered under the deal did not meet specifications and were “not fit for purpose.”
However, Dr. Ayine maintains that the case had no legal merit, reinforcing his decision to discontinue the trial. Dr Ayine’s resolute stance underscores his commitment to upholding the principles of justice and ensuring that politically motivated prosecutions do not undermine the integrity of the legal system.
Story by Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
