High Court to rule on motions in Ambulance Case June 6

The High Court is set to rule on four motions filed by the Minority Leader, Ato Forson, and a businessman, Richard Jakpa, in the ambulance case. 

The ruling is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2024. 

The motions include a request for an inquiry into the Attorney-General's conduct based on allegations from Richard Jakpa, a call for a mistrial, a stay of proceedings, and a motion to dismiss the charges filed by the Minority Leader.

Per his motion, the minority leader indicates that the alleged collusion with the businessman violates his right to a fair trial and aims to ensure his conviction, thus requesting the court to declare a mistrial or halt the proceedings pending the determination of the issues.

When the case was called, the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, permitted the defense to challenge the Attorney-General's affidavit opposing the motion to dismiss the charges. 

Counsel for the 2nd accused, Thaddeus Sory, argued that the affidavit was inadmissible as it was based on hearsay, lacking direct knowledge of the interactions between Jakpa and the Attorney-General.

He added that the principal state attorney does not have personal knowledge of all interactions involving the attorney general.

On his part, the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, described the objections as unfounded and that the Principal State Attorney's information was obtained during his work, which constitutes a valid source.

Mr. Dame insisted that the case should proceed based on credible evidence and that halting the prosecution would undermine the principle of legal equality.

The Minority Leader and businessman, Richard Jakpa, is being charged with a financial loss of €2.37 million related to a 200-ambulance procurement deal between 2014 and 2016. 

They have, however, pleaded not guilty to charges including wilfully causing financial loss, abetment, violation of the Public Procurement Act, and misapplication of public funds. 

According to the prosecution, the procurement process, initiated in 2009, involved defective ambulances that lacked medical equipment, thus causing financial loss to the state.