The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who was standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in an ambulance deal.
In a 2-1 majority decision Tuesday morning [July 30, 2024], the second highest court of the land held that the prosecution handling the case did not establish a prima facie case for Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who is a former Deputy Minister of Finance to answer.
Dr Forson is currently the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and the Minority Leader in Parliament.
Accordingly, the court held that there was no basis for the trial High Court to call Dr. Forson to open his defence.
The court gave the decision Tuesday after it upheld an appeal by Dr. Forson challenging the decision of the trial High Court to dismiss his submission of no case.
The court also acquitted and discharged Richard Jakpa, the business man who was standing trial together with the Minority Leader
Justices Kwaku T Ackah -Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah were on the majority side while Justice Alex Poku Acheampong dissented.
As a result, Dr. Ato Forson is no longer required to open his defence in the ongoing trial, marking a significant development in the case.
Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, who is a representative for Big Sea, were accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
