Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has closed his case in the €2.37 million ambulance saga.
During the recent court session, he had planned to call former Health Minister Alex Segbefia as his third witness, but Mr. Segbefia was not present.
“The first accused wishes to inform the court that we’re calling no further witnesses and we’re closing our case,” Dr. Ato Forson’s lawyer, Edudzi Tameklo, informed the court.
The second accused, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, who is the former Chief Director of the Health Ministry, has commenced presenting his defense in the Financial and Economic Court 2.
The judge stated, “A1 has closed his case; hence, A2 has been directed to open his defence.”
Attorneys representing the first and third accused did not raise objections to the witness statement provided by A2. This has cleared the path for state attorneys to proceed with the cross-examination.
In his witness statement, Dr. Anemana mentioned that he was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and, therefore, was not informed about the processes involved in the ambulance purchase after his departure from the health ministry.
He told the court that he retired from the Environment ministry. “I retired from the service in September 2015 when some ambulances were purchased. I do not see any financial loss to the state in a contract that hasn’t materialised even until today,” Dr. Anemana stated.
Dr. Anemana informed the court that Dr. Ato Forson was not the Deputy Minister for Finance at the time he wrote the contract letters for sole sourcing. This response came during the cross-examination by Dr. Ato Forson’s lawyers regarding the deputy finance minister’s role in signing the contract letters.
The lawyers for the first accused concluded their cross-examination, suggesting that Dr. Ato Forson had no involvement in the contract.
Lawyers for the third accused clarified that the 15.8 million euros was a loan secured from Stanbic for 200 ambulances. Dr. Anemana affirmed this statement.
Dr. Anemana asserted that the process of securing the loan began during his tenure at the health ministry.
The third accused stated that no money was directly paid to his client, Dzakpa, until directed by a high court.
Lawyers for the second accused applied for an amendment of bail terms to allow Dr. Anemana access to medical treatment in India.
The judge questioned the merit of the application, rejected it, and Mr. Owuradu, the lawyer, withdrew it with the intention of resubmitting later.
The judge struck out the application seeking the release of A2’s passport.