Private legal practitioner, Bobby Banson, has praised the recent developments in the ambulance procurement trial, stating that they are beneficial for Ghana’s democracy.
On Tuesday, July 30, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, the third accused, in the Ambulance Case.
This 2:1 decision by the court overturned a previous order from the trial court, which had required Dr Forson and Jakpa to present their defence.
The two were charged with allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to procure ambulances for the Government of Ghana.
In the 2:1 decision, Justice Alex Poku Acheampong, who presided, dissented, while Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackah-Boafo and Justice Philip Bright Mensah granted the pleas of the accused.
Ahead of the court’s decision, several interesting developments arose, such as the release of an audio recording by Jakpa in which the Attorney General was alleged to have caused Jakpa to implicate Dr. Forson, along with the issues surrounding it.
Both the prosecution and the accused raised several issues before the decision by the Court of Appeal.
Speaking on the Point of View with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV, Mr Banson indicated that the dynamics of the case, especially the spotlight it had due to the involvement of the Attorney General, were noteworthy.
He stated that all developments related to the case demonstrated the extent to which the country’s democracy was evolving, which he viewed as a positive sign.
“I think the new dynamics would be the fact that it is the first time in recent history that we’ve had the AG personally being put in a spotlight not necessarily because of the discharge of his work…It also shows the extent to which our democracy is developing…I think it is a plus for our democracy,” he stated.
