A former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, has been scheduled to testify in the matter involving Ato Forson and the ambulance as the defence’s next witness on October 9, according to lawyers for the former deputy Finance Minister.
Counsel for Ato Forson, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, notified the court about the defence’s decision to withdraw three witnesses that had been billed to testify in defence of Ato Forson.
A former Controller and Accountant General, Seidu Kotomah, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, Patrick Nimo, and a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah were to testify in succession but Edudzi Tamaklo noted that in their place, former Health Minister, Alex Segbefia will testify.
He prayed for adjournment to November 9 since the former Health Minister was out of town and would be back by then.
But Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe noted that Alex Segbefia had been served with a witness summons and was to appear on November 2 and hence was surprised he had travelled without notifying the court.
Mr. Tamakloe apologised on behalf of Alex Segbefia citing an emergency as the reason their next witness was out of town.
The case has since been adjourned to November 9 for Alex Segbefia to give his witness testimony.
Minority leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has been charged with causing financial loss of 2.3 million euros to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016 during his tenure as deputy finance minister.
Two others, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, and Richard Jakpa, a businessman are also standing trial for various roles in the matter.
All three have, however, pleaded not guilty to five counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.
According to the prosecution, Dr Ato Forson, who allegedly wrote letters of credit of 3.95million euros to the Central bank for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea, played an integral part in resulting in the financial loss to the state since the ambulances procured for the state were not fit for purpose.
By Laud Adu Asare|3News
