The High Court hearing the ambulance suit against the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and a businessman has ordered the State Security Agency to take steps to investigate the source of unauthorised audio recordings of some of the events that transpired during the last Parliamentary session.
This comes after Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alfred Tua Yeboah complained to the presiding judge about the audio recording.
Following the complaint, the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwa Asare-Botwe met with the prosecution and defence lawyers in its chambers to verify the Deputy Attorney Generalβs allegations.
Justice Asare Botwe, after meeting with lawyers on both sides, warned all parties not to record the case, adding that if it happens again, the case will proceed with just the accused and their lawyers.
background
Dr Forson and Dr Jakpa are accused of causing financial losses to the state of β¬2.37 million between 2014 and 2016 in contracts to purchase 200 ambulances for the country.
They have pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally causing economic loss to the state, aiding and abetting intentionally causing economic loss to the state, violating the public procurement law and intentional misappropriation of public property.
According to the Attorney General’s facts annexed to the indictment, in 2009, the then President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, while delivering a State of the Nation address, suggested purchasing new ambulances to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.
Jakpa, who is also the local representative of Dubai-based Big Sea General Trading Limited, then approached the Ministry of Health saying he had arranged a loan from Stanbic Bank to supply 200 ambulances to the government.
Parliament approved the loan agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank.
The facts state that on November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to enter into a sole procurement contract with Big Sea for the supply of 200 ambulances.
It added that on August 7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana seeking a letter of credit for the amount of β¬3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances to Big Sea.
A letter of credit was issued to Big Sea accordingly. The facts state that 30 ambulances were purchased for β¬2.37 million, but all did not meet the ambulance specifications and were found to be “unfit for purpose”.