The Minority in Parliament has declared their intention to boycott parliamentary proceedings whenever their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is required to attend court sessions for the ongoing ambulance trial.
This decision was made in response to the High Court judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, denying a request from Dr. Ato Forson’s lawyers for a leave of absence to attend important parliamentary business on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, when the House resumes its third meeting of the fourth session.
In a press release issued by the NDC MPs and signed by Chief Whip Governs Agbodza, they expressed their dissatisfaction with the judge’s rejection of an earlier request by Parliament for Dr. Ato Forson to participate in a crucial Parliamentary Service Board meeting and other legislative activities.
The statement highlighted that the Minority Leader is expected to deliver a resumption address, engage with the press, and carry out other significant duties as part of his legislative mandate, which he will be unable to fulfill due to the court proceedings.
The Minority argues that their decision aims to counter what they perceive as an attempt by the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, to hinder Dr. Ato Forson’s ability to fulfill his constitutional responsibilities as an elected Member of Parliament and the Leader of the Minority Caucus.
“The NDC Minority Caucus has taken notice of this worrying trend that shows an attempt by the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, to prevent the Minority Leader from performing his constitutional duties as an elected Member of Parliament and the Leader of the Minority Caucus.”
“In the light of the above, and the continuous persecution of the Minority Leader, the NDC Minority will continue to solidarise and stand by its Leader anytime he is due to appear in court.”
“The NDC Minority Caucus further reserves the right to apply all other tools available to us in our approach to business on the floor,” an excerpt of the statement said.
An Accra High Court has dismissed an application for mistrial in the ambulance trial.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, presiding over the ambulance trial, ruled that the application filed by former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson was not tenable.
Dr. Ato Forson and co-accused Richard Jakpa had alleged professional and prosecutorial misconduct on the part of Attorney-General Godfred Dame.
Their application referenced a tape in which Dame and Jakpa were purportedly discussing matters before the courts.
However, the judge found no statutory basis to declare a mistrial or to investigate the Attorney-General’s conduct.
“In our body of laws, as far as the legislation or case law is concerned, there is no provision for the court to declare a mistrial on the basis of the alleged misconduct of a lawyer, either for the prosecution or the defence,” portions of the 39-page judgement read.
The court also declined jurisdiction to order an inquiry into the Attorney-General’s conduct, directing Dr. Ato Forson to seek redress from the General Legal Council if he wished to pursue the matter further.
The trial judge advised the Attorney-General to stay away from the trial, citing the leaked audio tape and its contents, which raised concerns about Dame’s interaction with Jakpa.
Despite these concerns, the judge ruled that they did not constitute grounds to halt the case.
In response, the Attorney-General has stated that while he acknowledges the judge’s advice regarding the case, he does not intend to recuse himself, expressing his commitment to prosecute the matter to its conclusion.
The High Court in Accra has ruled that it cannot investigate Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame’s conduct in the ongoing ambulance case involving Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson.
The court emphasized that there is no legal provision allowing such an inquiry in criminal proceedings.
Dr. Ato Forson filed a supplementary affidavit on June 3, seeking a mistrial and a stay of proceedings.
His request was based on a leaked tape where the Attorney-General allegedly coached the third accused, Richard Jakpa, to implicate him. Ato Forson’s legal team argued that this behaviour warranted an investigation and a mistrial.
The court dismissed these requests. The judge stated that jurisdiction in criminal cases must be established by law, not inferred. The judge also noted that mistrials are applicable only in jury trials, not summary trials.
“Court has no jurisdiction to undertake an enquiry into the conduct of the Attorney-General. Jurisdiction in criminal proceedings must be implied. It cannot be inferred. It must be by law. There is no such law.” the judge is quoted to have said.
“On the application to prevent the Attorney-General from instituting criminal proceedings, the court is cautious in injuncting constitutional bodies from performing their functions. The applicant has demonstrated any serious basis for such an order. It is this dismissed,” the judge added.
Regarding the leaked tape, the judge acknowledged its admission but found no evidence that the Attorney-General’s words implicated Ato Forson. The judge stressed that the fairness of the trial had not been compromised.
“On the admissibility of the secret recording, because it is a criminal proceeding, it would be admitted. However, having admitted the weight to be attached is something else. The court finds that the words regarding whether the Attorney-General asked A3 to help him to make a case against A1, did not come out of the mouth of the Attorney-General,” she added.
The court concluded that there was no basis for a mistrial or an inquiry into the Attorney-General’s conduct. The proceedings will continue as planned.
Contrary to what the NDC has strenuously tried to make Ghanaians believe in respect of the ongoing criminal trial of Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, the emerging facts of the case show clearly that the two accused persons shortchanged Ghana in the botched ambulance transaction, occasioning a huge financial loss to the state.
First of all, documentary evidence tendered in court shows that Big Sea, the Dubai-based company that was engaged by the NDC government to supply the 200 ambulances and which had Jakpa as its local agent, was unknown to parliamentary approval processes.
In other words, the specific transaction entered with Big Sea, which was engineered by the accused persons, had no parliamentary approval as required by Article 181(5) of the constitution, therefore making the transaction unlawful and of no effect.
Beyond that, the Attorney General had presented to the court a letter written by the then minister of health under the NDC administration, Sherry Aryittey, instructing Big Sea not to supply the ambulances because there was no valid contract regarding the transaction, and also informing them that the Ministry of Health did not have funds to establish the letters of credit (LCs) for purposes of paying for the transaction.
Despite this, Ato Forson, as deputy minister of finance, authorised payment for the ambulances without any basis and directed the amount to be charged to the Ministry of Health’s account.
The vehicles that were supplied by Big Sea pursuant to Ato Forson’s directives were fundamentally defective and not fit to be used as ambulances. The vans were so ordinary and defective that they could not even be used as trotros.
The defective nature of the vans was confirmed by a letter written by the then minister of health, Alex Segbefia, and other assessments by the National Ambulance Service (NAS). It was on this basis that the vans were never used even by the John Mahama administration, because they were just not fit for use as ambulances.
That is the cardinal sin committed by Ato Forson and his conspirators, including Richard Jakpa, against the Republic.
It is this daylight stealing of the taxpayers’ money that the current learned Attorney General, Godfred Dame, is bent on fighting through this prosecution. Fortunately, the AG, as ruled by the court, has been able to establish a solid case against all the accused persons.
The accused persons have tried on many occasions to plead with the AG to discontinue the prosecution. The AG had to contend with pressure from every angle, including the former president John Mahama, who specifically maintained the discontinuation of the ambulance trial as a condition to get the co-operation of NDC MPs.
Having been unsuccessful in getting the AG to drop the charges against them, the accused persons then resorted to using these malicious orchestrations targeted at destroying the enviable reputation of the AG. Richard Jakpa is thus being used as a hired mercenary to exploit the relationship between the AG and his own cousin Justice Yonny Kulendi to get the accused persons to escape accountability.
However, the AG remains focused on the delivery of his work for the good people of Ghana, and he shall succeed, Insha Allah.
Iddi Muhayu-Deen, Esq
The writer is a member of the NPP national communications team
DISCLAIMER: TIGPost.co will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the primary defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, has submitted an application for a mistrial.
Dr. Forson cited recent developments, including a leaked telephone conversation between Mr. Richard Jakpa and Attorney-General Godfred Dame, as grounds for his request.
In his affidavit, filed on Friday, May 31, Dr. Forson expressed concerns about the leaked tape, which he argues demonstrates professional misconduct by the Attorney-General. These recordings have been submitted as evidence along with the application.
Dr. Forson is urging the court to declare a mistrial in the interest of justice, emphasizing the need for justice to not only be served but also to be perceived as fair and impartial.
He contends that failing to order a mistrial under these circumstances, which suggest a disregard for the rule of law and ethical standards by the Attorney-General, could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
During cross-examination, Richard Jakpa revealed that the Attorney-General had been contacting him at unusual hours to solicit testimony against Dr. Forson.
This revelation has sparked significant public discourse, with some individuals calling for Attorney-General Godfred Dame’s resignation.
Dr. Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister and the current Minority Leader, is on trial for his alleged involvement in procuring defective ambulances for Ghana.
At a press conference, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) played a 16-minute tape purportedly featuring a conversation between the Attorney-General and Jakpa.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refuted the claims made in the audio, asserting that it has been “doctored and manipulated” with malicious intent.
The office of the Attorney-General has responded vigorously to Dr. Ato Forson’s recent court application, which seeks to investigate the Attorney-General’s conduct in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial.
Dr. Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament and the first accused in the case, filed for a probe following allegations by the third accused, Richard Jakpa, that the Attorney-General had attempted to recruit him to aid in Forson’s prosecution.
In addition to requesting an inquiry into the Attorney-General’s conduct, Dr. Forson is seeking an order of mistrial, an injunction, and/or a stay of proceedings in the criminal case.
He argues that the Attorney-General’s actions constitute an abuse of court processes and violate constitutional obligations.
However, the Attorney-General’s office has firmly rejected these claims. In a comprehensive affidavit, the Principal State Attorney outlines some reasons why the charges against Jakpa and Forson should not be dismissed, describing the applications as “unfounded, unmeritorious, and unknown to the law.”
Key Points from the Affidavit:
Desperate Tactic to Avoid Prosecution
The Attorney-General argues that Forson’s and Jakpa’s applications are desperate attempts to evade justice. The affidavit states: “Clearly, the accused persons are bent on using any means necessary, fair or foul, to abort their legitimate prosecution for crimes committed against the Republic and must not be aided in that illegitimate endeavor through a grant of the instant application.”
Robust Evidence and Transparency
The affidavit emphasizes that the prosecution’s case is built on solid evidence from thorough investigations. The Attorney-General’s office has shared all relevant documents with the defense to ensure transparency and fairness. The affidavit notes: “In fairness to the accused persons, the Attorney-General duly filed all the evidence he intended to rely on at the trial and furnished all parties to this action with copies of all documents including even the ones he did not rely on.”
Denial of Allegations
The Attorney-General denies any improper conduct or attempts to manipulate Jakpa’s testimony. The affidavit rejects the claim that the Attorney-General tried to coach Jakpa on what to say in court, describing these allegations as “spurious and mischievous.”
Manipulation of Facts
The affidavit accuses Forson and Jakpa of manipulating facts to undermine the integrity of the court and discredit the prosecution. It states: “The depositions in the affidavit in support of the instant application are laden with spurious allegations which are carefully and mischievously calculated at creating unnecessary anxiety about the capacity of the court to dispense justice in this case.”
Background of the Case
Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are accused of causing financial loss to the state through the procurement of faulty ambulances. Jakpa has claimed that in private conversations, the Attorney-General admitted there was no case against him, a claim purportedly supported by a recording released by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This recording allegedly captures the Attorney-General coaching Jakpa on what to say in court to incriminate Dr. Forson.
Despite these allegations, the Attorney-General’s office maintains that the prosecution is legitimate and based on robust evidence.
The Attorney-General (A-G) has issued a strong rebuttal toDr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s recent application to the High Court, emphasizing that no one in Ghana is immune from prosecution.
Dr. Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, is currently facing charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the state in the ambulance procurement case.
Dr. Forson had applied for an investigation into the A-G’s conduct, alongside requests for a mistrial, an injunction, and/or a stay of proceedings.
This application followed allegations by Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the case, claiming the A-G had attempted to recruit him to support the prosecution against Dr. Forson.
In the affidavit opposing these requests, the A-G firmly rejected the claims, stating that they lack merit and legal grounding.
The affidavit asserts, “No one has immunity from prosecution under the laws of Ghana,” highlighting the A-G’s commitment to upholding the rule of law without favoritism.
The A-G’s office described Dr. Forson’s application as a strategic move to avoid accountability.
“The instant application is a smokescreen and a veiled attempt by the applicant to abort his legitimate prosecution for actions committed as a public officer which led to the State losing colossal amounts of funds,” the affidavit noted.
The affidavit also stressed that the prosecution has adhered to legal procedures and provided substantial evidence. “The Prosecution has led cogent evidence after painstaking investigations conducted in this case and called credible witnesses who were cross-examined extensively by counsel for the applicant and the other accused persons leading to a prima facie case being held by this Honourable Court to have been duly made against all the accused persons.”
Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are accused of causing financial loss to the state through the procurement of defective ambulances worth €2.4 million.
The Attorney-General has strongly opposed Dr.Cassiel Ato Forson‘s recent application to the High Court, calling it a “smokescreen” designed to avoid prosecution.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Forson, is facing charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the state in a controversial ambulance procurement case.
Dr. Forson, who is the first accused in the case, has however accused the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, of attempting to manipulate the trial by allegedly trying to recruit the third accused, Richard Jakpa, to aid in his prosecution.
Dr. Forson filed an application for an inquiry into the A-G’s conduct following allegations from Richard Jakpa claiming that the A-G tried to recruit him to help prosecute Dr. Forson
In his application, Dr. Forson seeks an order to investigate the Attorney-General’s conduct, an order of mistrial, and an injunction or stay of proceedings in the criminal case. He argues that the Attorney-General’s actions constitute an abuse of court processes and violate constitutional obligations.
In a detailed affidavit, the A-G’s office firmly dismissed the application as baseless and an attempt to obstruct justice. The affidavit states, “The instant application is a smokescreen and a veiled attempt by the applicant to abort his legitimate prosecution for actions committed as a public officer which led to the State losing colossal amounts of funds. Same is incompetent as no one has immunity from prosecution under the laws of Ghana.”
The A-G’s affidavit argues that no valid legal grounds support Dr. Forson’s requests and maintains that the prosecution has conducted its duties fairly and justly. “The Attorney-General has always served the Republic of Ghana diligently and without fear or favor to all manner of persons, including the applicant herein,” the affidavit asserts.
Addressing specific allegations, the affidavit clarifies that the dismissal of Dr. Sylvester Anemana from the case was due to severe illness, not any exculpatory evidence favoring Dr. Forson. It also highlights that the prosecution has provided strong evidence, leading to a prima facie case against all accused.
“The Respondent states that a suspicion about the prosecution or motives for prosecution is not evidence upon which the court makes decisions and therefore the instant application is completely frivolous,” the A-G’s affidavit declares.
This rebuttal underscores the A-G’s stance that the trial should proceed without interruption, emphasizing the principle of equality before the law and rejecting any attempts to evade justice through unfounded allegations.
Background
Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are accused of causing financial loss to the state through the procurement of defective ambulances worth €2.4 million.
The case has sparked significant public interest, with the recent developments adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battle.
Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah is advocating for the ambulance trial to proceed on a daily basis.
This request follows recent allegations against Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, promptingDr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the main defendant in the case, to call on the Chief Justice to televise the remaining hearings.
While Tuah-Yeboah’s office has no objections to the proposal for live broadcasting, he suggests that incorporating daily hearings might expedite the trial process.
“In fact, the AG had indicated at a different forum that when it comes to public interest matters or matters where the public has that kind of interest, it will be in the interest of justice that such proceedings are broadcast live on television and radio, so we don’t have any objection to the request but as I said, the Chief Justice has the final say.
“Not only the broadcast, we are also looking at day-to-day hearing so that we can get to the end of this matter as soon as possible.
The broadcast, if possible, may have to go with day-to-day hearing so that we can get to the end of this matter.”
Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC),Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has cautioned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to brace themselves for the escalating controversy surrounding the trial of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Dr. Forson faces allegations of causing financial loss to the state in the procurement of 200 ambulances.
In an interview on Neat FM on May 31, 2024, Edudzi asserted that the NDC possesses evidence indicating that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration, led by Attorney General Godfred Dame, is exerting efforts to imprison Dr. Ato Forson unjustly.
He highlighted an audio recording of a phone conversation between Godfred Dame and the third defendant in Dr. Ato Forson’s trial, Richard Jakpa, where the AG is heard pressuring Jakpa to testify against the Minority Leader. Additionally, Edudzi referenced WhatsApp messages between the two individuals, released by the NDC, as further evidence of wrongdoing.
“If you can recall, when this issue started, my brother Nana B ignorantly stated that the recording was done at the home of a Supreme Court judge. On Tuesday, the recording that was released, was it in a house? Wasn’t it a phone call?
“So, quite clearly, our brothers and sisters in the NPP do not know what is coming. They have no idea,” he said in Twi.
The NDC legal director urged NPP members who are making noise about the trial to take a clue from the Attorney General who has gone quiet since the revelations started.
He made these remarks while reacting to a petition by Dr. Ato Forson to the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, for the remaining proceedings of the trial to be broadcast live.
About the allegations against Godfred Dame:
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), as promised, presented evidence implicating Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Dame in the ongoing trial of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The NDC accused Godfred Dame of engaging in unethical and unprofessional behavior, alleging that businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ambulance procurement trial, claimed in court that the AG had meetings with him to discuss implicating Ato Forson.
Jakpa alleged that the Attorney General sought his cooperation to incriminate Dr. Ato Forson, a claim Dame vehemently denied.
During a press conference in Accra on May 28, 2024, the NDC played a 16-minute audio recording of a phone conversation between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, recorded on the day Jakpa was scheduled to testify in court.
In the recording, Dame is heard urging Jakpa to testify in a manner inconsistent with the explanation Jakpa provided to him. Prior to the AG’s request, Jakpa had asserted that Ato Forson had committed no wrongdoing with the LCs he signed, and he explained that the contract was for the purchase of 200 vehicles with 4 LCs.
“With the security from the government being the LC, the condition precedent… the contract for 200 vehicles in tranches of 50, 50, 50, 50. The contract is one contract for 200 ambulances which has been broken down within the contract.
“You establish an LC for every 50 tranche. So, you have four LCs for the 200 ambulances,” Jakpa explained.
Godfred Dame then stated that the third accused should accept his explanation because it wouldn’t cause him any harm.
“For that part, I disagree with you because if you look at the terms of the contract, it is quite clear, and it should not be difficult for you to accept because it doesn’t put you in any problem. You are not the Minister of Health, and you are not the Minister of Finance, so it doesn’t put you in any difficulty,” the Attorney General is heard saying.
However, Jakpa insisted that he could not grant Dame’s request because there were letters that confirmed the arrangement in the contract.
“No, the problem I have in accepting that for you is that there are letters that confirm [details of the transaction]. So I can’t go against what the letters say,” he said.
In the recording, Dame persistently urged Jakpa to adopt his stance, assuring him that it wouldn’t pose any issues. However, Jakpa remained resolute, refusing to testify contrary to the truth he knew.
Furthermore, theAttorney Generalcan be heard advising Jakpa to concoct a medical excuse to facilitate his travel.
The former Deputy Finance Minister argues that this request aims to promote accountability and transparency, thereby enhancing the pursuit of justice for all parties involved in the trial.
The Ato Forson-ambulance caseinvolves allegations of financial misconduct related to the procurement of defective ambulances.
The trial is in progress, with Dr. Forson maintaining his innocence.
The most recent development includes his request for live broadcast of the proceedings to promote transparency.
Minority Leader and main defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has directed his legal team to formally request the Chief Justice to broadcast the remaining trial sessions.
This request, communicated in a letter from his attorneys to the Chief Justice on May 30, is motivated by recent accusations of impropriety leveled against Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
Richard Jakpa made a claim last week suggesting that the Attorney-General had urged him to give false testimony against Dr. Ato Forson during the trial.
In support of Jakpa’s accusations, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) released a 16-minute recording purportedly capturing a conversation between Dame and Jakpa.
The recording allegedly depicts Dame advising Jakpa on what statements to present in court to implicate Dr. Ato Forson.
During a press conference on May 28, NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stated that the recording revealed a coaching session aimed at influencing Jakpa’s testimony.
Given these developments, Dr. Ato Forson argued that live broadcasting of the trial would ensure transparency and uphold the principles of open justice, enabling citizens to develop informed perspectives and hold those involved accountable.
“In the wake of the recent exposé concerning the alleged misconduct of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, I have instructed my lawyers to petition the Chief Justice for the live broadcast of all subsequent proceedings in the Ambulance Trial. This request is motivated by a deep commitment to transparency and open justice, principles that are fundamental to a fair and impartial legal system.”
“The allegations against the Attorney-General are deeply concerning. If true, they represent a serious breach of public trust and a threat to the integrity of our judicial system. It is imperative that these allegations be thoroughly investigated and that the public be given the opportunity to witness the proceedings firsthand,” he posted on social media.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who is the primary defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, has instructed his legal team to petition the Chief Justice to televise the remainder of the proceedings.
This request was detailed in a letter from his lawyers to the Chief Justice on Thursday, May 30.
Dr. Ato Forson explained on social media that this move is prompted by recent allegations of misconduct against Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
Last week, Richard Jakpa claimed that the Attorney-General had encouraged him to provide false testimony against Dr. Ato Forson in the trial.
In support of Jakpa’s allegations, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) released a 16-minute recording purportedly capturing a conversation between Mr Dame and Mr Jakpa.
The recording allegedly reveals Dame coaching Jakpa on what statements to make in court to incriminate Dr. Ato Forson.
At a press conference on May 28, NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah asserted that the tape exposed a coaching session aimed at manipulating Jakpa’s testimony.
In light of these developments, Dr. Ato Forson argues that broadcasting the trial live would ensure transparency and uphold the principles of open justice, allowing citizens to form informed opinions and hold participants accountable.
“In the wake of the recent exposé concerning the alleged misconduct of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, I have instructed my lawyers to petition the Chief Justice for the live broadcast of all subsequent proceedings in the Ambulance Trial. This request is motivated by a deep commitment to transparency and open justice, principles that are fundamental to a fair and impartial legal system.”
“The allegations against the Attorney-General are deeply concerning. If true, they represent a serious breach of public trust and a threat to the integrity of our judicial system. It is imperative that these allegations be thoroughly investigated and that the public be given the opportunity to witness the proceedings firsthand,” he posted on socila media.
Transparency and Open Justice: Live Broadcast of the Ambulance Trial
In the wake of the recent exposé concerning the alleged misconduct of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, I have instructed my lawyers to petition the Chief Justice for the live broadcast of all… pic.twitter.com/9on6wfe3uL
— Cassiel Ato Forson(PhD) (@Cassielforson) May 30, 2024
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the alleged audio tape involving Attorney General Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ambulance case, released by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been tampered with.
At a press conference on Tuesday, May 28, NPP National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) described the tape as distorted and manipulated, claiming it was “cut and pieced together” by the NDC to create a misleading impression.
“The NDC today addressed a press conference and released what is believed to be their evidence. Clearly, you could see that it was doctored. It’s a manipulated tape. It is a cut and pieced-together tape, thrown out to create a certain impression. And we are here to respond to these evil-minded persons,” he added.
Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ambulance procurement case, revealed under cross-examination that Attorney General Godfred Dame had been calling him at odd hours to obtain testimony against the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson.
Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, is facing trial for his alleged involvement in the procurement of faulty ambulances for Ghana. This case has sparked public conversations, with some individuals calling for the Attorney General’s resignation.
The Attorney General insisted that Jakpa had sent letters requesting a plea bargain, which had not been accepted. However, the NDC countered these claims by playing a tape during a press conference on Tuesday, May 28. The NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stated that Jakpa never requested a plea bargain.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has released a 16-minute recording to support the claims made by Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the faulty ambulance case involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The tape captures a conversation between Attorney General Godfred Dame and Jakpa, in which Dame allegedly instructs Jakpa on what to say in court, specifically implicating Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BY THE NDC BELOW
STATEMENT READ BY HON. JOHNSON ASIEDU NKETIA, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE UNPROFESSIONAL AND CRIMINAL CONDUCT BY THE ATTORNEYGENERAL, GODFRED YEBOAH DAME, IN THE AMBULANCE CASE.
Tuesday, 28th May, 2024
Good afternoon, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media.
I welcome you on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to this crucial Moment of Truth press conference.
We have called you here over a very grave matter that has the potential to completely undermine the administration of justice in Ghana.
As you may be aware, since late 2021, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has been persecuting the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Dr. Cassiel AtoForson, over the purchase of some ambulances by the Ministry of Health under the erstwhile NDC/Mahama government.
As a law-abiding political party, we have restrained ourselves from commenting on this matter publicly. This is because we respect the principle that matters pending in court should not be commented on in a manner that prejudices the outcome. We therefore have no intention of doing so today.
However, in the light of repeated falsehoods, deliberate misrepresentations and distortions churned out by Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and NPP propagandists, we are compelled to correct certain misconceptions in the public domain about the said ambulance transaction and situate this discussion in its proper context.
This is without prejudice to any matters pending before the law courts in this case.
Every reasonable person would agree that, it will be irresponsible of us to sit aloof and allow deliberate falsehood to be peddled about us without putting out the truth.
For the avoidance of doubt, the specific claim that the Attorney-General has based his persecution of the Minority Leader on is that, in the Attorney-General’s view, there has been financial loss to the state because he as Deputy Minister of Finance, wrote letters to the Bank of Ghana requesting the Bank to set up Letters of Credit in favour of Big Sea Trading Limited of Dubai, suppliers of the ambulances in question, without authorisation from his then boss and Finance Minister, Hon. Seth Terkper. This is publicly available information captured in the records of the High Court, Accra.
It is also a matter of public record, that Hon. Seth Terkper has appeared before the trial court and stated unequivocally under oath that he gave express authorisation to his then Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. Ato Forson, to write the said letters to the Bank of Ghana for Letters of Credit to be established in respect of the ambulance transaction. This authorisation is evidenced by the seal of the Ministry of Finance that is apparent on the face of the letter written by Hon. Ato Forson.
It is instructive to note that the establishment of the Letters of Credit was done on the advice of the Attorney-General then, that failure to do so was going to make it difficult for the Government of Ghana to defend any suit brought by Big Sea Trading for breach of contract.
Godfred Dame and hordes of NPP propagandists also continue to falsely claim that the NDC government brought in ordinary vans purporting to be ambulances without medical equipment under the said transaction.
We want to state emphatically that the first set of 30 ambulances supplied under the transaction arrived in the country with the necessary fittings in them sometime in the year 2015.
On the screen are pictures of the exterior and interior of the ambulances as they arrived in the country. It is clear from these pictures that the ambulances that were procured were not empty vans as claimed by dishonest Godfred Dame and the NPP.
In addition, a container load of medical equipment to be installed in these ambulances were shipped by Big Sea and arrived in the country around the end of 2016. Sadly, these medical equipment have been sitting at the Tema port for the last eight (8) years because this government, specifically the Ministry of Health, which is the consignee, has refused to clear them just so they can falsely claim that there were no equipment.
Once again, we have projected on the screen a copy of the bill of lading dated 8th October, 2016 covering this shipment. As can be seen, this container has 30 sets of medical equipment and defibrillators for installation, as well as spare parts for the 30 ambulances.
All that was required for this government to do was to clear the medical equipment from the ports and give engineers of Big Sea access to the ambulances, which have since been parked at the Airforce Base in Accra, to install them, train personnel of the Ghana Ambulance Service to use them and then formally take possession of the said ambulances.
It therefore makes no sense that after refusing to do this simple task and allowing the ambulances to deteriorate for 8 years, Godfred Dame would turn around to persecute Hon. Ato Forson for allegedly causing financial loss to the State, when that loss has been clearly occasioned by the deliberate negligence of the government he represents.
We firmly believe that the decision to take the Minority Leader and some others to Court over this matter was born out of a malicious, sinister and wicked desire to silence him through unjust imprisonment and nothing more.
As we publicly stated from the very outset of this case, the timing and circumstances of this socalled prosecution, show that it was instituted mainly to intimidate and silence the then ranking member on Finance, now Minority Leader, following his vehement opposition to the government’s 2022 budget, the E-levy and the general economic mismanagement by the AkufoAddo/Bawumia government. This is the very embodiment of political witch-hunt and persecution.
Having set out the factual background of this whole matter, I will now proceed to address certain grave matters that have emerged from the ongoing trial, which border on professional misconduct and crime on the part of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, last Thursday, 23rd May 2024, the 3rd Accused person in this case, Richard Jakpa, took the stand to be cross-examined by counsel for Dr. Ato Forson. During this cross-examination, Attorney-General Godfred Dame, shot up from his seat to accuse Mr. Richard Jakpa of defending Dr. Ato Forson rather than himself.
In response to the Attorney-General’s accusation, Mr. Jakpa who was testifying under oath and felt attacked without provocation, dropped a bombshell that Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney-General, has been having clandestine meetings and telephone conversations with him at odd hours to persuade him to falsely testify against the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson, so that the prosecution can secure a conviction. This testimony by Mr. Jakpa was given to the court under oath and captured by the court’s record.
At last Thursday’s hearing, the Attorney-General who was personally present in court, could not object to this damning evidence of Mr. Jakpa. He did not deny calling and meeting Jakpa at odd hours. Neither did he deny Jakpa’s claim that he has been impressing on him to skew his testimony in a manner that will allow the State to secure a conviction against the Minority Leader.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, in the period following these startling revelations, the National Democratic Congress, has obtained compelling evidence which supports Mr. Richard Jakpa’s claim that the Attorney-General indeed has engaged him on countless occasions and urged him to falsify his testimony to aid the case of the Attorney-General against Dr. Ato Forson.
This evidence points to a devious, diabolic and dangerous plan by the Attorney-General to secure conviction against Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson at all cost, contrary to what the 3rd Accused knows and believes to be the truth.
We have in our possession a series of recordings in which the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, is clearly heard goading, urging, impressing upon and coaching Mr. Jakpa to bear false testimony against the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson.
All of this desperate subornation by Mr. Dame is just because he is hellbent on securing the incarceration of the Minority Leader.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the first of these recordings is a 16-minute five seconds telephone conversation between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, the 3rd Accused person, held on the morning (7:12am) of 9th April, 2024, a day that the 3rd Accused Richard Jakpa was preparing to go to court to continue his testimony.
In this recording which we will play to your hearing and share with you shortly, Godfred Dame, the Attorney-General, is clearly heard doing the following:
A) Witness tampering
In this recording, Godfred Dame is heard impressing upon Richard Jakpa, the 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa, to skew his answers and testimony to support the prosecution’s case.
This was despite Mr. Jakpa’s insistence that the line the Attorney-General wanted him to tow was dishonest, untenable and that his conscience could not allow him to do so.
The dishonourable Attorney-General then dangled the assurance that Richard Jakpa’s acceptance to testify the Attorney-General’s way was not going to get him into any difficulty.
B) Conspiracy against an accused person
In the recording under reference, Richard Jakpa reveals that Godfred Dame had met him on several occasions at the residence of a sitting Supreme Court Judge to impress upon him to testify in a manner that the Prosecution wants in order to fix and wrongfully jail the Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson.
Godfred Dame did not refute this statement by Richard Jakpa except to caution him that they were speaking on phone, and that he was not sure if anyone was recording their conversation.
Also, Godfred Dame is heard in the recording urging and coaching Richard Jakpa, albeit with strong protest from Mr. Jakpa, to provide answers that Jakpa knows to be false to the Court.
C) Professional Misconduct
The audio recording provides incontrovertible evidence of professional misconduct on the part of Godfred Dame as a Lawyer and a prosecutor.
By talking to a represented person in an ongoing trial, on the blindside of the represented person’s lawyer and urging the represented person to testify in a manner that aids the prosecution’s case, Godfred Dame violently violated the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423) in many ways.
This gross professional misconduct on the part of no less a person than the Attorney-General, who as the leader of the Bar bears a high responsibility to adhere to the rules of ethics of the legal profession, is reprehensible and totally unpardonable.
D) Fabrication of evidence to pervert the course of Justice
It is instructive to note that in the audio recording, Godfred Dame is heard persuading Mr. Jakpa not to end his testimony by a particular time to allow him to travel.
The dishonourable Attorney-General is also heard persuading Mr. Jakpa to procure and submit a fake medical excuse duty to the court which he was scheduled to testify before that morning. This was to enable Godfred Dame travel abroad without missing Jakpa’s testimony.
By asking a witness to fabricate evidence to deceive a court, Godfred Dame, the AttorneyGeneral, sought to undermine the judicial and justice administration process.
This conduct of Godfred Dame constitutes the offense of perjury which is a crime punishable under the laws of Ghana, specifically sections 213 and 214 of the Criminal and Other Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I would at this stage invite you to listen to the content of this recording after which I will make some important observations.
(Play audio recording)
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the recording you just heard is one that is worrying and all Ghanaians must be concerned about it.
This is a scandal of unimaginable proportions that seriously exposes the criminal-mindedness and lack of integrity of the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame.
It also highlights the dishonesty of the prosecution in the Ambulance trial and the desperate lengths they are prepared to go to secure wrongful conviction against Hon. Ato Forson at all cost.
Clearly, Mr. Dame, who as Attorney-General ought to know better, was doing everything he could, including criminal acts, to defeat the long cherished legal principle that it is better to set a thousand guilty persons free than to convict one innocent person.
Again, this recording, confirms our long-held position on Godfred Dame’s notoriety for judicial manipulation against opponents of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia regime.
After many years of getting away with his shady, crooked and underhand dealings, Godfred Dame’s cup has become full and his day of reckoning has finally come.
Today, Godfred Dame stands exposed as an unethical, scheming and devious Attorney-General who will go to whatever length, including engaging in criminality to unjustly silence, persecute and imprison critics of his government. Dame is clearly a devious character bereft of integrity, honour and unfit to occupy the high and hallowed public office of Attorney-General.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, why should we be concerned about this tape recording?
As I have already intimated, this tape recording captures professional misconduct, unethical behaviour and criminal conduct on the part of no less a person than the Attorney-General of the Republic of Ghana, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
This conduct of Attorney-General Godfred Dame offends Rules 13, 40 and 54 of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules) L.I. 2324.
Rule 13 of L.I 2324 , which is on Communication with a represented party states:
“A lawyer shall not approach, communicate or deal with a represented person on a matter or attempt to negotiate or compromise a matter directly with a represented person except through or with the consent of the lawyer of that represented person”.
At the time that Mr. Godfred Dame was calling and meeting Richard Jakpa at odd hours to urge, goad, impress upon and coach him to testify the Attorney-General’s way, Mr. Jakpa was represented by a lawyer.
The claim that the Attorney General has been engaging the 3rd Accused directly because he has been changing lawyers frequently is totally false.
For instance, at the time Godfred Dame engaged the 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa in the phone call conversation that we just played to you on 9th April, 2024, the 3rd Accused was represented by the distinguished lawyer, Thaddeus Sory.
It is clear from the tape recording that Godfred Dame was communicating with the 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa, on the blindside of his lawyer as well as the court, and he was attempting to compromise Jakpa in order to wrongfully convict Dr. Ato Forson. This is a cardinal sin against the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules) L.I. 2324.
Again, Rule 40 (1) of LI 2324, which highlights special responsibilities of a prosecutor states:
“Where a lawyer acts as a prosecutor, the lawyer shall act resolutely and honourably within the limits of the law and shall treat the court or tribunal with candour, fairness, courtesy and respect”.
It is clear from this tape that Godfred Dame’s conduct violates Rule 40 (1) of LI 2324. He consciously, deliberately and knowingly did not act resolutely nor honourably. Neither did Dame treat the court with the candour, fairness and respect that all lawyers, and in this particular case prosecutors, are required by law to do.
The standard for Integrity of evidence is provided for by Rule 54 of LI 2423. It states:
Rule 54 (1) A lawyer shall not advise or suggest to a witness to give false evidence. (2) A lawyer shall not (a) suggest, or (b) condone a client or another person suggesting to a prospective witness, the content of any particular evidence which the witness should give at any stage in a proceeding.
This is the duty placed by law on all lawyers, including the Attorney-General. Godfred Dame by his conduct, which are captured on this tape, clearly violates this duty placed on him as a lawyer.
Again, Godfred Dame’s conduct violates section 213 of the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29) which is on fabrication of evidence and states as follows:
“Whoever fabricates evidence, with intent to defeat, obstruct, or pervert the course of justice in any proceeding, shall be liable to the same penalties as if he had committed perjury in that proceeding.”
It is clear from the tape recording that Mr. Dame was urging, goading and encouraging the 3rd Accused to fabricate evidence in the form of a fake medical excuse duty to deceive the trial court.
FALSE ENTRAPMENT EXCUSE Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we note that following Mr Richard Jakpa’s explosive testimony last Thursday and the widespread controversy it has generated, Godfred Dame has resorted to peddling more lies in an attempt to escape accountability.
First, the Attorney General publicly stated at paragraph 2 of his press release of 23rd May, 2024 that;
“The Republic has never required or desired the cooperation of any of the accused persons in the matter, in which it has already succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against all the accused persons. Neither the Attorney-General nor any officer from the Office of the Attorney-General has approached any of the accused persons with the view to obtaining evidence from them”.
It is glaringly clear from the tape recording you just listened to that this claim is a barefaced lie peddled by the dishonourable Attorney-General and his office to deceive the public.
In sharp contrast to his earlier claim that he has never met any of the accused persons, the Attorney-General now claims that he has actually contacted and met the 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa, but that he met him only once at the residence of a Supreme Court Judge and that this meeting was not at his behest but rather at the behest of a sitting Supreme Court judge who entrapped him.
Ladies and gentlemen, all these claims by the Attorney-General through his spokesperson are lies, and we have evidence to prove so.
In addition to the voice recordings, we have other evidence by way of screenshots of chats on WhatsApp between Godfred Dame and Mr. Jakpa which further prove that the Attorney-General contacted a represented person without recourse to the represented person’s lawyer.
The chats further show, that it was Godfred Dame who chose to meet Richard Jakpa at the house of the Supreme Court Judge (Project WhatsApp Exhibit 1).
As you can see from the screen this is a WhatsApp chat dated 16th February, 2022 in which Godfred Dame undertakes to arrange a meeting with Mr. Jakpa through his brother (actually, his cousin, the Supreme Court Judge) through a WhatsApp message sent at 7:32pm. This evidence totally belies Dame’s contrived and ridiculous claim that he was entrapped.
The next set of WhatsApp chats (Project WhatsApp exhibits 2, 3 and 4) dated 17th July, 2022, shows Godfred Dame, receiving certain soft copies of documents from Mr. Richard Jakpa to facilitate his prosecution of the Minority Leader at 11:29pm. This was immediately after the Attorney-General had met Mr. Jakpa at the residence of the Supreme Court judge, at the instance of the Attorney-General.
In the next WhatsApp chat (WhatsApp exhibit 5) dated 23rd November, 2023, Godfred Dame is seen to have placed a call at 10:40am to Richard Jakpa and followed it with a message at 10:49am acknowledging a message sent to him by Mr. Jakpa that the case had been adjourned to Thursday, the following week.
The final WhatsApp chat (WhatsApp exhibit 6) dated Tuesday 9th April, 2024 shows evidence of a 26- minute phone call placed to Richard Jakpa by GodfredDame at 7:12am, the morning of a day Jakpa was scheduled to testify in court.
It is this telephone conversation that we have played to you and it was in this conversation that Godfred Dame, among others, asked Jakpa to fabricate a fake medical excuse duty to deceive the trial court.
Thus, the claim by the dishonourable Attorney-General Godfred Dame that he only met the 3rd Accused person once and that same was through entrapment by a Supreme Court judge is not only false but hogwash.
CONTRIVED PLEA BARGAIN EXCUSE Ladies and gentlemen, following Mr. Jakpa’s explosive testimony in court, the Attorney-General has falsely claimed through his spokesperson and various assigns that his engagement with the 3rd Accused was for purposes of plea bargain negotiations at the instance of the 3rd Accused.
We want to state for the records that there has not been any plea bargain meetings between the Attorney-General and the 3rd Accused throughout this trial.
All the letters being circulated by the Attorney-General in the media dated 27th April, 2023, 16th May, 2023, 30th May, 2023 and 12th June, 2023, were proposals for amicable settlement and plea bargaining from Big Sea LLC and Mr. Jakpa.
All these proposals were rejected by the Attorney-General, whereupon the trial court decided to continue with the hearing and adjudication of the case.
Since then, the court has not been informed of the commencement of any plea bargain negotiations as required by section 162C(3) of Plea Bargaining Act, 2022 (Act 1079).
For emphasis, aside the letters submitted by Mr. Jakpato the Attorney-General for settlement or plea bargaining, which proposals were all rejected by the Attorney General, there has not been any meeting between either Mr. Jakpa or his lawyers on one hand and the Attorney-General or his assigns on the other hand.
It is worthy of note that all those letters were signed by lawyers for Mr. Jakpa. This means that assuming the Attorney-General had accepted to engage the 3rd Accused in plea bargain negotiations, same should have been done with the lawyers of the 3rd Accused as required by section 162A(3) of Plea Bargaining Act, 2022 (Act 1079).
More importantly, the evidence of clandestine communication and meetings between the Attorney-General and the 3rd Accused which we have shown you, dates back to as far back as 16th February, 2022 and 17th July, 2022 when no settlement or plea bargain proposal had even been made by Big Sea and Mr. Jakpa.
We have also played to you a recording of a phone call conversation held between the AttorneyGeneral and Mr. Jakpa as recent as 9th April, 2024, a day Mr. Jakpa was scheduled to testify in court.
It is evidently clear from the foregoing facts that the plea bargain excuse being mounted by the Attorney-General and his assigns are palpable lies calculated to divert attention from the critical issues at stake.
The question every well-meaning Ghanaian should be asking is, why the Attorney-General will refuse a proposal to settle this case, which will ensure the payment of Two Million Euros to the State, at a time our country is faced with economic bankruptcy.
DEMANDS Considering the scandalous nature of this recording and other forms of evidence we have shown you, we wish to make the following pressing demands as part of efforts to restore credibility to the Attorney-General’s office and Ghana’s judicial system as a whole.
The immediate and unconditional resignation or dismissal of Godfred Dame for bringing the high office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice into disrepute and public opprobrium. Clearly, Mr. Dame is not fit to hold himself out as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He is unfit to be the Leader of the Ghanaian Bar.
The immediate prosecution of Godfred Dame for multiple violations of the laws of Ghana. We wish to make it clear that should President Akufo-Addo fail to prosecute him, a future NDC government will prosecute Godfred Dame for this heinous crime of fabrication of evidence.
Commencement of disciplinary proceedings by the General Legal Council against Godfred Dame and his disbarment for conduct unbecoming of a lawyer and more importantly the leader of the Ghana Bar.
A publicly-televised Parliamentary inquiry into this and other reports of judicial manipulations by GodfredDame with a view to censure Godfred Dame to prevent the recurrence of such judicial manipulations.
CONCLUSION Friends from the media, it is clear from the incontrovertible evidence we have adduced today, that the government has no evidence of wrongdoing against the Minority Leader but is only involved in fabrications to persecute him as retribution for his strong opposition to the economic mismanagement and general misrule of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
These damning revelations call into question the integrity of the case of the prosecution in the ongoing Ambulance trial and the necessity for same.
Godfred Dame has brought shame and disrepute to the honourable office of the Attorney-General with his criminal, devious and vicious conduct. He is a danger to fairness and justice in our judicial system and represents the lowest point in the history of persons who have occupied the hallowed office of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
While we have pointed out many times that GodfredDame epitomises all that is inherently wrong in vesting both the office of the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice in the same person, we believe that he has recklessly abused both offices and his continuous stay in office is no longer tenable.
The primary responsibility of the Attorney-General is to be the voice of rule of law, ensure the impartial enforcement of law and advise the President and government to take actions that conform to law.
More importantly, an Attorney-General must be a shining example and a leading light for the Bar, not a criminal-minded, crooked, devious and vicious person who is pre-occupied with witchhunting and victimisation, as has become the cup of tea of Godfred Dame.
Mr. Dame has demonstrated time without number that he cannot prioritise the national interest over his party’s parochial and self-serving interest. He must therefore resign or be sacked by the President without delay.
SIGNED. HON. JOHNSON ASIEDU NKETIA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, NDC
A user on X platform has reacted to the controversy surrounding the ambulance case involving Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Investigations have uncovered a diabolical strategy by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to use a secretly recorded conversation that took place in the residence of a Supreme Court Judge between the Supreme Court Judge, the 3rd accused person in the Ambulance Trial, Richard Jakpa and the Attorney-General as the main weapon to stop the prosecution of the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson and two others for causing financial loss to the State.
There has been incessant pressure on the Attorney-General to discontinue the Ambulance prosecution but the A-G has remained firm and stuck to his grounds adducing evidence in the form of many documents at the trial to back his case in court.
Pressure has come from many persons including former President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the leadership of the minority in Parliament and some senior members of the NPP.
It has been revealed that Former President Mahama had stated the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament from recess. The former President has on other occasions, also stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the minority in Parliament.
The Attorney-General had also alleged in a press release, that Honourable Cassiel Ato Forson himself has been to the house of the A-G to negotiate a discontinuance of the prosecution.
Reacting to this, X user @Oh_Menua has asked what Dr Forson would be doing at the Attorney General’s house if he claims to be innocent.
“So the Minority Leader Ato Forson actually went to Attorney General Godfred Dane’s house to beg. Wow, what was he begging for if he is innocent as he claims? Wicked politicians.”
Investigations have disclosed that on the fateful day on which the secret recording was made, the Attorney-General had been invited by a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana to come to his house for a discussion. He obliged as would be expected. In the course of the conversation with the Justice of the Supreme Court, the third accused, Richard Jakpa, who the Judge introduced as a cousin, came over to visit.
The Supreme Court Judge then enquired about the status of the plea bargaining proposal submitted by the accused and whether it was possible for same to be accepted. Jakpa also claimed at the meeting that he was not guilty and that the A-G should stop prosecuting him.
The Attorney-General at the meeting explained the reason why the plea bargaining proposal had not yet been accepted by the prosecution. The A-G actually attributed the failure of the plea bargaining process to the strategies adopted by the accused persons. This plea bargaining proposal to the Office of the Attorney-General, form our investigations, is reflected in letters dated 16th April, 27th April, 16th May and 30th May, 2023 submitted to the A-G.
Richard Jakpa, in the presence of the Supreme Court Judge, accused the A-G of being too difficult and that the A-G had something against him. He stated that the A-G was the main hinderance to the settlement efforts and that if the A-G was really inclined, the case would have been settled long ago.
The A-G said at the meeting that he had taken this position because, Ato Forson, the 1st accused in the matter, had been to the A-G’s house in the company of a senior Member of Parliament and pleaded with the A-G to stop prosecuting him.
The A-G had told him that the only way out was for Ato Forson together with the other accused persons, to submit a plea bargaining proposal. Even though Ato Forson accepted to do this, he was not prepared to explicitly acknowledge on paper that he had offered to do plea bargaining with the A-G, since he thought to do so would imply acceptance of wrongdoing on his part. Unknown to the A-G, the whole conversation in the Supreme Court judge’s house was being recorded.
Our investigations further reveal that the Attorney-General assured the Justice of the Supreme Court that he did not really have a problem with the 3rd accused, and that if plea bargaining was what he wanted, it was just for him to come clean and indicate unequivocally that, he wanted same.
Mr Jakpa is reported to have said at the meeting that, in spite of all the A-G had stated, he was still pursuing him and that the A-G really meant to secure his conviction.
The A-G was compelled to assure Jakpa in the presence of the Justice of the Supreme Court once again, that he had nothing against him, and that, in his case, if he was truthful when testifying and did not attempt to be “clever” or evasive, it would facilitate an acceptance of a plea proposal by him.
The Attorney-General stated that all he would require of Jakpa, to facilitate a plea negotiation was for him to cooperate by being truthful and faithful to the record of the transaction.
The A-G told Jakpa in the presence of the Justice of the Supreme Court that, for instance, when he is cross-examining Jakpa, he would show him the Cabinet approval for the transaction (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial) and ask whether Big Sea Company was mentioned in the Cabinet approval.
The answer. obviously, must be “No” because this is borne out by the record. The A-G will proceed to ask whether Big Sea was mentioned in the Parliamentary approval (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial). The answer, clearly, must also be “No”. Jakpa should not think that by answering “No” or seeming to confirm the A-G’s position, he would be implicating himself or that the A-G is putting him into any trouble. Jakpa will only be confirming the truth as is clear from the record.
The A-G also said that he would ask Mr Jakpa about a letter written by Madam Sherry Aryittey, former Minister for Health (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial). Sherry Aryittey, by that letter, had indicated to Big Sea that her Ministry, the Ministry of Health, did not have funds to establish the Letters of Credit (LCs), by which the transaction was paid for, and therefore Big Sea should stop producing the ambulances. In spite of this, the Ministry of Finance through the 1st accused, Ato Forson, proceeded to establish the LCs and directed the amount to be charged on the Ministry of Health’s account.
The 3rd accused sharply disagreed with the obvious interpretation of the letter written by Sherry Aryittey and claimed that by agreeing with the A-G, he would be “implicating” the 1st accused. Our investigations reveal that the 3rd accused said so, because, apparently, he was recording the conversation.
Soon thereafter, the A-G told the Justice of the Supreme Court that he wanted to leave, and he left the house of the Justice of the Supreme Court. He left the 3rd accused in that house.
The following day, the A-G called the 3rd accused on telephone and indicated that he desired an adjournment as he had to respond to a very pressing issue in Cabinet. The A-G called the 3rd accused because he had failed to reach his lawyer on phone.
Jakpa expressed his inability to be absent from court since the trial judge had, at the previous adjourned date, issued a bench warrant for Jakpa’s arrest since he had been absent from proceedings without reasonable cause. Unknown to the A-G, Jakpa recorded that conversation as well.
It has emerged that, subsequently, the A-G got through to the counsel for the 3rd accused and told him exactly what he had told the 3rd accused on phone. Counsel for the 3rd accused also later came over to meet the A-G and held discussions with him regarding the plea bargaining proposal of the 3rd accused.
Our investigations show that the A-G had never met the 3rd accused anywhere apart from the residence of the Supreme Court Judge. The meeting at the Suprem Court Judge’s house, apparently, was a set up as the 3rd accused knew that it was definitely not possible for him to meet the A-G anywhere and secretly record him.
The A-G had never been influenced by the introduction to Jakpa by the Supreme Court Judge, or any representation made by Jakpa, to stop the prosecution. The A-G had not been influenced by the strong pressure piled on him by the other accused persons, particularly, the 1st accused, Ato Forson, who had even visited the A-G in his house to plead. The A-G had kept his focus and proceeded to build a strong case against all the accused persons.
The A-G had apparently relied solely on documents existing in the public service, i.e. the various Ministries and Departments. The Court had, on 30th March, 2023, actually ruled that a prima facie case had been made by the prosecution against all the accused persons and that, they ought to open their defence.
PRESSURE TO DISCONTINUE THE PROSECUTION OF ATO FORSON AND TWO OTHERS
Investigations have disclosed that the accused persons in the Ambulance trial knew that they had lost the case on account of the evidence led by the prosecution at the trial. They thus started resorting to all manner of strategies including pressure on the A-G for him to discontinue.
Pressure has come from every angle – former President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the leadership of the minority in Parliament and some senior members of the NPP who are friends of Ato Forson. Former President Mahama recently stated the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament. The former President has on other occasions, stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the minority in Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament has on a number of occasions spoken with the A-G for him to stop the prosecution of the Minority Leader but the A-G has refused to do so.
A user on X platform has reacted to the controversy surrounding the ambulance case involving Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Investigations have uncovered a diabolical strategy by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to use a secretly recorded conversation that took place in the residence of a Supreme Court Judge between the Supreme Court Judge, the 3rd accused person in the Ambulance Trial, Richard Jakpa and the Attorney-General as the main weapon to stop the prosecution of the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson and two others for causing financial loss to the State.
There has been incessant pressure on the Attorney-General to discontinue the Ambulance prosecution but the A-G has remained firm and stuck to his grounds adducing evidence in the form of many documents at the trial to back his case in court.
Pressure has come from many persons including former President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the leadership of the minority in Parliament and some senior members of the NPP.
It has been revealed that Former President Mahama had stated the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament from recess. The former President has on other occasions, also stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the minority in Parliament.
The Attorney-General had also alleged in a press release, that Honourable Cassiel Ato Forson himself has been to the house of the A-G to negotiate a discontinuance of the prosecution.
Reacting to this, X user @Oh_Menua has asked what Dr Forson would be doing at the Attorney General’s house if he claims to be innocent.
“So the Minority Leader Ato Forson actually went to Attorney General Godfred Dane’s house to beg. Wow, what was he begging for if he is innocent as he claims? Wicked politicians.”
Investigations have disclosed that on the fateful day on which the secret recording was made, the Attorney-General had been invited by a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana to come to his house for a discussion. He obliged as would be expected. In the course of the conversation with the Justice of the Supreme Court, the third accused, Richard Jakpa, who the Judge introduced as a cousin, came over to visit.
The Supreme Court Judge then enquired about the status of the plea bargaining proposal submitted by the accused and whether it was possible for same to be accepted. Jakpa also claimed at the meeting that he was not guilty and that the A-G should stop prosecuting him.
The Attorney-General at the meeting explained the reason why the plea bargaining proposal had not yet been accepted by the prosecution. The A-G actually attributed the failure of the plea bargaining process to the strategies adopted by the accused persons. This plea bargaining proposal to the Office of the Attorney-General, form our investigations, is reflected in letters dated 16th April, 27th April, 16th May and 30th May, 2023 submitted to the A-G.
Richard Jakpa, in the presence of the Supreme Court Judge, accused the A-G of being too difficult and that the A-G had something against him. He stated that the A-G was the main hinderance to the settlement efforts and that if the A-G was really inclined, the case would have been settled long ago.
The A-G said at the meeting that he had taken this position because, Ato Forson, the 1st accused in the matter, had been to the A-G’s house in the company of a senior Member of Parliament and pleaded with the A-G to stop prosecuting him.
The A-G had told him that the only way out was for Ato Forson together with the other accused persons, to submit a plea bargaining proposal. Even though Ato Forson accepted to do this, he was not prepared to explicitly acknowledge on paper that he had offered to do plea bargaining with the A-G, since he thought to do so would imply acceptance of wrongdoing on his part. Unknown to the A-G, the whole conversation in the Supreme Court judge’s house was being recorded.
Our investigations further reveal that the Attorney-General assured the Justice of the Supreme Court that he did not really have a problem with the 3rd accused, and that if plea bargaining was what he wanted, it was just for him to come clean and indicate unequivocally that, he wanted same.
Mr Jakpa is reported to have said at the meeting that, in spite of all the A-G had stated, he was still pursuing him and that the A-G really meant to secure his conviction.
The A-G was compelled to assure Jakpa in the presence of the Justice of the Supreme Court once again, that he had nothing against him, and that, in his case, if he was truthful when testifying and did not attempt to be “clever” or evasive, it would facilitate an acceptance of a plea proposal by him.
The Attorney-General stated that all he would require of Jakpa, to facilitate a plea negotiation was for him to cooperate by being truthful and faithful to the record of the transaction.
The A-G told Jakpa in the presence of the Justice of the Supreme Court that, for instance, when he is cross-examining Jakpa, he would show him the Cabinet approval for the transaction (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial) and ask whether Big Sea Company was mentioned in the Cabinet approval.
The answer. obviously, must be “No” because this is borne out by the record. The A-G will proceed to ask whether Big Sea was mentioned in the Parliamentary approval (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial). The answer, clearly, must also be “No”. Jakpa should not think that by answering “No” or seeming to confirm the A-G’s position, he would be implicating himself or that the A-G is putting him into any trouble. Jakpa will only be confirming the truth as is clear from the record.
The A-G also said that he would ask Mr Jakpa about a letter written by Madam Sherry Aryittey, former Minister for Health (which the prosecution had already tendered at the trial). Sherry Aryittey, by that letter, had indicated to Big Sea that her Ministry, the Ministry of Health, did not have funds to establish the Letters of Credit (LCs), by which the transaction was paid for, and therefore Big Sea should stop producing the ambulances. In spite of this, the Ministry of Finance through the 1st accused, Ato Forson, proceeded to establish the LCs and directed the amount to be charged on the Ministry of Health’s account.
The 3rd accused sharply disagreed with the obvious interpretation of the letter written by Sherry Aryittey and claimed that by agreeing with the A-G, he would be “implicating” the 1st accused. Our investigations reveal that the 3rd accused said so, because, apparently, he was recording the conversation.
Soon thereafter, the A-G told the Justice of the Supreme Court that he wanted to leave, and he left the house of the Justice of the Supreme Court. He left the 3rd accused in that house.
The following day, the A-G called the 3rd accused on telephone and indicated that he desired an adjournment as he had to respond to a very pressing issue in Cabinet. The A-G called the 3rd accused because he had failed to reach his lawyer on phone.
Jakpa expressed his inability to be absent from court since the trial judge had, at the previous adjourned date, issued a bench warrant for Jakpa’s arrest since he had been absent from proceedings without reasonable cause. Unknown to the A-G, Jakpa recorded that conversation as well.
It has emerged that, subsequently, the A-G got through to the counsel for the 3rd accused and told him exactly what he had told the 3rd accused on phone. Counsel for the 3rd accused also later came over to meet the A-G and held discussions with him regarding the plea bargaining proposal of the 3rd accused.
Our investigations show that the A-G had never met the 3rd accused anywhere apart from the residence of the Supreme Court Judge. The meeting at the Suprem Court Judge’s house, apparently, was a set up as the 3rd accused knew that it was definitely not possible for him to meet the A-G anywhere and secretly record him.
The A-G had never been influenced by the introduction to Jakpa by the Supreme Court Judge, or any representation made by Jakpa, to stop the prosecution. The A-G had not been influenced by the strong pressure piled on him by the other accused persons, particularly, the 1st accused, Ato Forson, who had even visited the A-G in his house to plead. The A-G had kept his focus and proceeded to build a strong case against all the accused persons.
The A-G had apparently relied solely on documents existing in the public service, i.e. the various Ministries and Departments. The Court had, on 30th March, 2023, actually ruled that a prima facie case had been made by the prosecution against all the accused persons and that, they ought to open their defence.
PRESSURE TO DISCONTINUE THE PROSECUTION OF ATO FORSON AND TWO OTHERS
Investigations have disclosed that the accused persons in the Ambulance trial knew that they had lost the case on account of the evidence led by the prosecution at the trial. They thus started resorting to all manner of strategies including pressure on the A-G for him to discontinue.
Pressure has come from every angle – former President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the leadership of the minority in Parliament and some senior members of the NPP who are friends of Ato Forson. Former President Mahama recently stated the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament. The former President has on other occasions, stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the minority in Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament has on a number of occasions spoken with the A-G for him to stop the prosecution of the Minority Leader but the A-G has refused to do so.
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has revealed that there has been intense pressure from various individuals to discontinue the ambulance purchase trial involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Richard Jakpa, the third accused, alleged in open court that Attorney General Godfred Dame approached him multiple times, seeking his assistance in implicating Dr. Ato Forson.
During cross-examination, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe admonished Jakpa to provide direct answers instead of evading questions and wasting the court’s time.
In response to the judge’s caution, the Attorney-General accused Jakpa of defending the Minority Leader. This prompted a fiery reaction from Jakpa, who claimed the AG had repeatedly contacted him at odd hours to build a case against Dr. Forson.
The Attorney-General, in a statement, said that the third accused had, in fact, requested plea bargaining in a series of letters, which has not been accepted.
“It is rather the third accused who, by various letters dated 27th April 2023, 16th May 2023, 30th May 2023 and 12th June 2023, has proposed to the Republic through the Attorney-General to engage in plea bargaining or plea negotiations. This plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted by the Attorney-General.
“Even though the law on plea bargaining passed by Parliament permits a prosecutor to negotiate with an accused person after a plea proposal has been made, the Attorney-General has not engaged the third accused person to give false testimony in the matter.”
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice stated that the latest allegation is part of a grand scheme by the NDC to pressure him into discontinuing the prosecution or to divert attention from the real issues.
“The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice considers the latest allegation levelled against the Attorney-General as part of a grand scheme by the NDC to put more pressure on him to discontinue the prosecution or to divert attention from the real issues regarding the actions of the accused persons which have caused enormous financial loss to the State.
“The Attorney-General has also come under enormous pressure from all manner of persons for him to discontinue the prosecution of the 1st accused person, Cassiel Ato Forson, but has not yielded.”
The Attorney-General stated that neither he nor any officer from the Office of the Attorney-General has approached any of the accused persons with the intention of obtaining evidence from them.
The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, has alleged that the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, is plotting to imprison the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, by all means.
Sammy Gyamfi made this claim following revelations during the cross-examination of the third accused person, Richard Jakpa, in the ongoing ambulance case on Thursday, May 23.
In a statement to the media after Thursday’s court session, Mr. Gyamfi revealed the efforts being made by the A-G, including contacting the third accused person at unusual hours, all in an attempt to obtain incriminating testimony against the Minority Leader.
“We have times without number explained why we think that Hon Ato Forson is innocent. And that this case is needless. The minority leader has opened his case and closed it. Currently, the 3rd accused is being cross-examined by lawyers for a minority leader who is the first accused.
“We were all in court to monitor the proceedings, but we were shocked to the marrow when the 3rd accused under cross-examination disclosed to the court that the Hon Attorney General has been reaching out to him, calling him over the phone that he has reached out to him and met him in person.
“That the Attorney-General has been asking to give false testimony to the court and skew his testimony in such a way that corroborates the AG, against the first accused so that the first accused can be convicted and jailed. He said this in open court.”
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has released the full details of the plea bargain letters sent to his office by the 3rd accused, Richard Jakpa, in the ambulance purchase case.
This move comes in response to claims made by Richard Jakpa in open court that Godfred Dame approached him multiple times, seeking his assistance to implicate the first accused person, Dr. Ato Forson.
Dr. Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister and current Minority Leader, is facing charges in court for his alleged role in the procurement of faulty ambulances for Ghana.
The Attorney-General dismissed the claims by the 3rd accused, stating instead that Richard Jakpa had sent several letters requesting a plea bargain in an attempt to have all charges against the accused persons dropped. He clarified that the proposal has not yet been accepted.
“It is rather the third accused who, by various letters dated 27th April 2023, 16th May 2023, 30th May 2023 and 12th June 2023, has proposed to the Republic through the Attorney-General to engage in plea bargaining or plea negotiations. This plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted by the Attorney-General.
“Even though the law on plea bargaining passed by Parliament permits a prosecutor to negotiate with an accused person after a plea proposal has been made, the Attorney-General has not engaged the third accused person to give false testimony in the matter.”
Attached are the letters released by the Attorney General’s office.
In a statement released this evening, the office stated that Attorney General Godfred Dame has never required the third accused person, Richard Jakpa, to contribute falsehoods to help convict the NDC MP.
This response follows claims by Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ambulance purchase trial, that the Attorney General had previously approached him to help build a case against Minority Leader and former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
“The A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 and I have evidence for that.. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when I’m here to defend myself,” Mr Jakpa said in court.
“If he pushes me, I’ll open the Pandora’s box. I have evidence to all this,” he added on Thursday, May 23.
The NDC has expressed concern, viewing the situation as a clear case of persecution against Dr. Forson, a prominent figure opposing the current government’s policies.
The Attorney General in the statement insisted that “The Republic has never required or desired the cooperation of any of the accused persons in the matter, in which it has already succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against all the accused persons.”
“Neither the Attorney-General nor any officer from the Office of the Attorney-General has approached any of the accused persons with the view to obtaining evidence from them.”
In the statement signed by Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, the office rather pointed to Mr Jakpa of being the one who “by various letters” on multiple occasions “proposed to the Republic through the Attorney-General to engage in plea bargaining or plea negotiations. This plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted by the Attorney-General.”
“Even though the law on plea bargaining passed by Parliament permits a prosecutor to negotiate with an accused person after a plea proposal has been made, the Attorney-General has not engaged the third accused person to give false testimony in the matter.
“The Attorney-General has also come under enormous pressure from all manner of persons for him to discontinue the prosecution of the 1st accused person, Cassiel Ato Forson, but has not yielded.”
In the earlier press release, the NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah posited that this incident confirms the “legitimate and long-held suspicion of the devious modus operandi of Godfred Dame and the government he represents.”
“The NDC is deeply scandalised by this clear case of persecution against the Leader of the party’s Caucus in Parliament who has been at the forefront of our struggle against the misrule of the oppressive and despotic Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP regime,” the statement said.
The NDC’s statement criticized the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, accusing it of lacking integrity and perverting the course of justice.
“It further shows the desperate lengths the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government will go to manipulate judicial processes to unjustly victimise political opponents for cheap political goal-scoring.”
Mr Nketia added that “It also confirms the lack of integrity of the dishonourable Attorney-General and the extent to which he goes to pervert the course of justice.”
The party has announced its intention to hold a press conference, during which it plans to present evidence supporting its claims.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi has shockingly revealed details of how the Attorney General, Godfred Dame is scheming to jail the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson at all cost.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, this emerged during the cross examination of the third accused person, Richard Jakpa during the continuation of the ambulance case today.
Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has made startling claims about Attorney General Godfred Dame’s alleged efforts to ensure the imprisonment of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Gyamfi asserted that these revelations came to light during the cross-examination of Richard Jakpa, the third accused, in the ongoing ambulance case.
Speaking to the press after the court session, Gyamfi detailed the Attorney General’s alleged attempts, including contacting Jakpa at odd hours, to secure testimony that could incriminate Dr. Ato Forson.
Speaking to the media moments after today’s court proceedings, Mr Gyamfi disclosed the overtures being made by the AG and the calls to the third accused person at odd hours all in an attempt to get incriminating testimony against the Minority Leader.
“…He[third accused] said this in open court and asked that it should be put on record and Her Ladyship directed that same should be captured by the record. So what we are talking about is something which is on record. We as a political party are totally scandalized and disgusted by this development.
“But we are not surprised because we have always known that this is the stock in trade of Godfred Yeboah Dame. This is not a man who is interested in Justice or the rule of Law. This is not a man who is an Attorney General and Minister For Justice.
This is a devious character with no honour whatsoever, no respect for justice, no respect for the rule of law and the rights of accused persons and who always goes about manipulating judicial processes to get his way at all cost and so we are not surprised that today, his sins have found him out. We are not surprised today that his cup is full, we are not surprised that today, his day of reckoning has come.”
Sammy Gyamfi added: “He has been doing this over and over again and we have had cause to lament this to the media and the good people of this country time and again. You have been asking for evidence, here is your evidence. Godfred Dame is not the Minister of Justice but Minister for Injustice. He is not interested in the rule of law, but interested in persecuting innocent people.
He is interested in bending the law to have his way at all cost, and if he can go to a witness and seek to influence the witness to coerce the witness to testify in a manner that will help him achieve his aim, then he is capable of talking to a Judge, a Registrar or any officer of thecourt to have his way.”
During cross-examination in the ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa, the third accused, alleged that Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame had approached him to implicate Minority Leader and former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe cautioned Jakpa to be direct in his responses to avoid wasting the Court’s time.
In response, Attorney-General Dame accused Jakpa of defending the Minority Leader, prompting Jakpa to retort that the Attorney-General seemed aggrieved because he had previously engaged Jakpa to help the state build a case against Dr. Ato Forson.
“The A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 and I have evidence for that.. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when I’m here to defend myself,” Mr Jakpa said in court.
“If he pushes me, I’ll open the Pandora’s box. I have evidence to all this,” he added.
Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson has called on Interior Minister Henry Quartey to publicly release the names of opposition MPs accused of engaging in protocol recruitment for security services.
During a May 21, 2024, interview on Neat FM, Quartey threatened to reveal the names of National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs allegedly involved in such practices.
This came after Forson claimed that each New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP had been given 30 slots for security service recruitments.
In a statement dated May 21, 2024, and posted on his social media handles, Forson described the minister’s position as “alarming and baseless.”
“His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand,” the statement read in part.
It added that Quartey’s views were “a hollow threat intended to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism from the Minority Caucus,” but that the Minority won’t be cowed.
“I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability.
“If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised,” Ato Forson stressed.
He added that the Minority will move for a probe into recruitment since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo came into office in 2017.
Statement: Ato Forson replies Henry Quartey:
I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.
The Minister’s remarks, made during an interview with Neat FM on May 21, 2024, and reproduced in the article below, come off as a hollow threat intended to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism from the Minority Caucus.
Our concern has been and remains the transparency and fairness in the recruitment process into our country’s security services. Specifically, we highlighted credible information suggesting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is manipulating recruitment processes to favor its parliamentary candidates with 30 slots each. This allegation is serious and deserves a substantive response, not deflection.
I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised.
Mr. Minister, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an enquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.
The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced his intention to file a motion for an inquiry into the recruitment practices of the security services since 2017 when Parliament resumes from recess.
Dr. Forson emphasized that the integrity of Ghana’s security services and the public’s trust in these institutions depend on a collective commitment to transparency and justice.
In a post on X on Tuesday, May 21, he affirmed that the NDC MPs are dedicated to ensuring fairness and transparency for the Ghanaian people.
“Mr. Minister, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an enquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.”
“The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.”
Additionally, Dr. Forson has denied allegations that members of his caucus submitted names for recruitment into various security agencies.
He dismissed the claims made by Interior Minister Henry Quartey as baseless and deceitful, arguing that they are an attempt to counter his own revelations about the government’s clandestine and illegal recruitment into the security services ahead of the December elections.
According to Dr. Forson, the Ayawaso Central MP is attempting to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.
“I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.”
“I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised.”
I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert…
— Cassiel Ato Forson(PhD) (@Cassielforson) May 21, 2024
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has denied claims that members of his caucus submitted names for recruitment into various security agencies.
Dr. Forson refuted the allegations made by Interior Minister Henry Quartey, describing them as baseless and deceitful.
He asserted that the minister’s claims are an attempt to counter his own revelations about the government’s clandestine and illegal recruitment into the security services ahead of the December elections.
According to Dr. Forson, the Ayawaso Central MP is trying to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.
He has therefore challenged his parliamentary colleague to name the NDC MPs who allegedly submitted names for recruitment, as well as the names of those individuals.
“I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.”
I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert…
— Cassiel Ato Forson(PhD) (@Cassielforson) May 21, 2024
I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised,” he stated.
During a news conference on Monday, May 20, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson alleged that all NPP parliamentary candidates have been allocated 30 slots each to select NPP loyalists and supporters for positions within the security services, including the police and army.
Dr. Forson urged President Akufo-Addo and the government to halt what he described as undemocratic behavior. He emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in the recruitment processes within the security sector.
In response to these allegations, Mr. Quartey addressed the matter during an interview, dismissing the Minority’s claims as baseless and regrettable.
“It is rather unfortunate that MPs and of course a leader, Minority Leader and a former deputy minister of Interior could actually spew this falsehood into the public. MPs currently are about 137…it cannot be possible, it is not and it cannot be possible. I am rather disappointed in this approach…Yes, we are recruiting but it is not a secret recruitment. We haven’t even started. The agencies are going to send the eligibility criteria. I am sure by this week they will do that.”
“What we are saying rather is that look in the last couple of years people have gone to buy forms. And for some reasons, they could not gain admission into the security and intelligence agencies. So we thought it wise that we don’t have to advertise anymore for people to continuously pay monies because you have a certain number of people that per the clearance you have to recruit.”
“But I want to say on authority and I want to say again on authority that giving 30 slots to MPs is false. It is not true. It has never happened before and I am surprised that they want to go on this tangent,” he stated.
A businessman and the third accused in the trial involving former Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson over the acquisition of ambulances that allegedly caused financial loss to the state, Richard Jakpa, has testified that the letters of credit in question bore the seal of former Finance Minister Seth Terkper.
Mr. Jakpa told the court that without the Minister’s authentication seal, the letters of credit would have been ineffective. He further explained that this seal was crucial for legitimizing the letters of credit.
Mr. Jakpa noted that the Bank of Ghana only opened the letters of credit after receiving authorization from the then Deputy Controller and Accountant General.
During his testimony, Mr. Jakpa highlighted the procedural importance of the authentication seal, asserting that it was an essential step in the process. He reiterated that this seal validated the letters of credit and ensured their effectiveness.
Mr. Jakpa’s statements aimed to clarify the chain of authorization and the role of the Finance Minister’s seal in the issuance and opening of the letters of credit by the Bank of Ghana.
“It is after the documents marked as page 2 and 3 of Exhibit AK that the Former Minister for Finance [ Hon. Seth Terkper] wrote to Big Sea assuring and informed it that he was in the process of finalizing the establishment of the Letter of Credit. Thereafter, the Bank of Ghana [BOG] was requested to open the LC with the authentication seal of the Minister for Finance.”
“This is confirmed by exhibit A. Later the Deputy Controller and Accountant’s General finally authorised the BOG to establish the LC by exhibit B,” an excerpt of his witness statement said.
The businessman also asserted that none of the accused individuals were responsible for causing financial loss to the state. He explained that the state had accepted the possession of the ambulances without any intention of terminating the contract.
Furthermore, Mr. Jakpa noted that the government had fulfilled its commitment by making the necessary payment for the ambulances. He emphasized that all required accessories were delivered in accordance with the contract specifications.
He refuted any allegations of deliberate or malicious intent to cause financial loss to the state by the accused persons.
“It is clear from the particulars of the offence charged against me that the government has itself admitted that the ambulances were supplied to Ghana. The point here I make is that since it is admitted that the ambulances were indeed supplied to the government of Ghana, it cannot be honestly said that the government sustained financial loss when government: has accepted or taken possession of the ambulances and not indicated no intention whatsoever of terminating the contract.”
“The government actually committed itself to performing the contract by paying for the ambulances as confirmed in the negotiated addendum to the contract,” his statement added.
Despite the Minority’s strong opposition, Parliament approved an additional $150 million loan facility from the World Bank for the GARID project on Friday, May 17, 2024.
In an interview with Citi TV on Monday, May 20, Dr. Ato Forson stated that funds earmarked for COVID-19 expenditure were misappropriated. He criticized the Ministry of Works and Housing for failing to provide a detailed account of the expenditure to Parliament.
“Someone somewhere is trying to distort the facts, but there’s the need for us to correct the records and let Ghanaians be aware of what exactly the situation is. So far, they have drawn out almost $180 million out of the $200 million loan. Unfortunately, even though they had drawn out almost $180 million, the amount has been misappropriated or misapplied.
“For example, $65 million of the GARID loan that was supposed to be used for the purposes of killing the floods, was misapplied for the purposes of COVID-19 expenditure.
“Yet, we don’t have the breakdown of the COVID-19 expenditure. We were told that unlike a typical World Bank facility, where a project implementation unit would have been established, and payments made directly to the contractors, in this case, the amount was paid into the Ministry of Works and Housing’s account, and the Ministry has failed to account to Parliament how much money that they have spent from that account,” he said.
Dr. Forson expressed concern over the lack of transparency and called for a thorough investigation into the misappropriation of GARID funds.
He emphasized the need for accountability and urged the government to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes, particularly in projects aimed at improving the lives of Ghanaians.
The Minority has voiced alarm over what they view as covert and unlawful recruitment into the security services by the government.
During a press briefing, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, claimed that all NPP Parliamentary candidates have been granted 30 slots each to nominate NPP loyalists and supporters for positions in the security services, such as the Police and Army.
Dr. Forson called on President Akufo-Addo and the government to cease what he labeled as undemocratic practices. He stressed the importance of transparency and equity in the recruitment processes of the security sector.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the Minority raised serious concerns about the criteria adopted by the NPP government to recruit personnel into the security services, it has persisted in taking additional steps in the last few days that we have seen.”
“The NDC Minority can authoritatively state that not long ago, the NPP government again illegally and fraudulently has given out 30 slots to all NPP parliamentary candidates across the country for recruitment into the security services,” he alleged.
The Minority Leader affirmed that the Minority in Parliament would stay vigilant and resist any efforts to manipulate the upcoming elections.
He reiterated the dedication of National Democratic Congress MPs to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and thwarting any actions that might jeopardize democracy.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has strongly criticized President Akufo-Addo for the hardships facing the Ghanaian people.
He argued that the government must urgently implement measures to alleviate the citizens’ plight.
In his address at the start of the parliamentary sitting on Friday, May 17, Dr. Forson, who previously served as Deputy Finance Minister, chastised the President for his new ministerial nominations.
He highlighted that the government is already bloated and that the suffering masses cannot afford to continue supporting such a large administration.
According to Dr. Forson, the President should be reducing the size of the government to assure the Ghanaian people that he is listening to their demands.
However, he asserted that the President has become deaf to the citizens’ calls for a leaner government.
Dr. Forson emphasized that the primary concern for the Akufo-Addo administration should be the alarming depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi.
He pointed out that the rapid decline in the value of the local currency is causing severe economic challenges, including the collapse of businesses and rising unemployment.
“Ordinary Ghanaians continue to bite the bullet and businesses are struggling under high tax regime to contribute to the development of country. What is expected on the part of government would have been prudent management of these contributions from the people of Ghana.”
“But hardly a day passes without one reckless and wasteful expenditure or the other by this government beinguncovered.”
“Mr Speaker, while are happy for the nominees because we know that it is just a matter of time and colleagues from our side will begin appearing before the Appointments Committee, we cannot pretend that things are still the same.”
The Minority Leader stressed that these economic issues must preoccupy the President’s attention rather than increasing the size of an already overblown government. He insisted that addressing the economic crisis should be the top priority.
Dr. Forson concluded by urging the government to focus on stabilizing the economy and addressing the pressing financial concerns of the nation, rather than expanding the government during such a critical time.
“Indeed, we cannot do things the same old way. Ghana’s present unfortunate situation occasioned by this government does not only call for new, creative and radical ways of confronting challenges but it also calls for modesty and sacrifice by the political class,” he stated.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has criticized President Akufo-Addo for the emergency parliamentary session convened by the Majority caucus on Friday, May 17.
He argued that there was no genuine emergency to justify recalling Parliament to approve a $150 million loan from the World Bank.
During his address at the parliamentary sitting, Dr. Forson, who previously served as Deputy Finance Minister, stated that the loan approval was unnecessary.
He highlighted that the government had already misused funds from the first phase of the loan previously approved.
Dr. Forson emphasized that the primary concern for the Akufo-Addo administration should be the alarming depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi. He pointed out that the rapid decline in the value of the local currency is causing severe economic challenges, including the collapse of businesses and rising unemployment.
He expressed concern over the continuous devaluation of the Cedi, which he said is driving up the cost of goods and services across the country. According to him, this is putting immense pressure on ordinary Ghanaians and worsening their living conditions.
“How is the approval of US$150 million loan an urgent issue, when US$200 million for phase one approved by this House has been misapplied and not accounted for?”
“How is it an urgent matter for Parliament to be summoned from recess to approve a-US$150 million loan agreement at a time that this government is grantingquestionable US$450 million tax waiver?”
“Therefore, we want to make the point clear that there is no urgent matter before the House to warrant this recall.”
Dr. Forson urged the government to focus on stabilizing the Cedi rather than seeking additional loans for what he termed as consumption. He stressed the need for the administration to prioritize economic stability and the well-being of its citizens.
The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam lawmaker reiterated that addressing the free fall of the Cedi should be the government’s most urgent task. He warned that failure to do so would continue to exacerbate economic hardships and undermine the nation’s financial health.
In conclusion, Dr. Forson called on the government to reassess its priorities and take decisive action to stabilize the economy, rather than accumulating more debt. He urged a shift in focus from borrowing to implementing policies that would strengthen the local currency and support sustainable economic growth.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, the urgent matter facing the people of Ghana, particularly businesses, traders and households is the free fall of the Cedi. This is a matter that concerns everyone. The depreciation of the Cedi should be anurgent issue for all of us,” he said.
In a statement, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson called upon President Nana Akufo-Addo to promptly instruct his appointees to release any hoarded foreign exchange.
Dr. Forson stressed the urgency of this directive to address the challenges of the depreciating Ghanaian Cedi.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, May 15, Dr. Ato Forson reiterated his belief that these appointees have deliberately withheld foreign exchange for personal gain. He emphasized the negative impact of such actions on the Ghanaian economy.
Accusing government appointees of prioritizing their own interests over the nation’s economic well-being, Dr. Forson emphasized the need for immediate action from President Akufo-Addo to prevent further harm to the currency.
The Minority Leader highlighted the growing concerns over the depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi, emphasizing the necessity for decisive measures to stabilize the currency and protect the economy.
“We call on the Akufo-Addo government to among others order his appointees to release the FX stashed in their homes,” he said.
Dr Ato Forson went on to criticize the government’s choice to settle contractor payments that were not included in its budgeted allocations by borrowing GH¢7 billion from the market for treasury bills.
The Minority Leader claims that this move exacerbates the depreciation of the Cedi relative to the dollar and establishes a concerning precedent of going above budgetary restrictions for political reasons.
“They are on an expenditure spree, spending money as if there is no tomorrow. In the last few days, we are aware that they have paid approximately GH¢7 billion to contractors, off-budget contractors, off-budget expenditures, GH¢7 billion.”
“They borrowed from the T-Bill market, so they borrowed the money from ordinary Ghanaians then they paid this money to these contractors, and the contractors are also not certain so they have engaged in currency substitution.”
“The contractors got cedis and went and changed it into US dollars and kept the money because of a lack of confidence in the economy.”
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to promptly direct his appointees who have stockpiled foreign exchange to release them.
During a press conference on Wednesday, May 15, Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the urgency of this directive to address the challenges posed by the depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi.
The Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam reiterated his belief that these appointees have deliberately hoarded foreign exchange for personal gain, highlighting the detrimental impact of such actions on the Ghanaian economy.
Dr. Ato Forson accused government appointees of prioritizing their self-interests over the nation’s economic well-being and stressed the need for immediate action from President Akufo-Addo to prevent further harm to the currency.
“We call on the Akufo-Addo government to among others order his appointees to release the FX stashed in their homes,” he said.
Dr. Ato Forson also criticized the government’s choice to borrow GH¢7 billion from the treasury bills market to cover contractor payments not included in its budgetary allocations.
The Minority Leader expressed concern that this move sets a troubling precedent of surpassing budget limits for political reasons, worsening the Cedi’s depreciation against the dollar.
“They are on an expenditure spree, spending money as if there is no tomorrow. In the last few days, we are aware that they have paid approximately GH¢7 billion to contractors, off-budget contractors, off-budget expenditures, GH¢7 billion.”
“They borrowed from the T-Bill market, so they borrowed the money from ordinary Ghanaians then they paid this money to these contractors, and the contractors are also not certain so they have engaged in currency substitution.”
“The contractors got cedis and went and changed it into US dollars and kept the money because of a lack of confidence in the economy.”
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has contended that the government’s financial decisions are significantly exacerbating the rapid depreciation of the Cedi.
Both the business community and trade unions have voiced myriad concerns about the steep decline of the Cedi against the US dollar, with recent rates hovering around GH¢15 to $1 as of Thursday, May 16.
During a press conference on Wednesday, May 15, the Minority Caucus revealed that the government disbursed an excess of GH¢7 billion to contractors outside the 2024 budget. They allege that this amount was utilized to purchase dollars, further weakening the Cedi.
In conversation with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show aired on Citi FM, the Minority Leader emphasized that the government’s actions have led to a Cedi depreciation of over 70% since July 2022.
“Since 2022, the Cedi has depreciated more than 70% and the current problem is primarily a result of how the government is spending.
“In the last month, the government has borrowed over GH¢7 billion from the T-bill market and used this money to pay contractors who have also purchased dollars hoping that the Cedi will depreciate and so even if you go to the market to buy dollars, you struggle to get it and this is because people lack confidence in the economy.”
“The Ministry of Finance is approving these payments, and the contractors are using it to buy dollars and it is easy to track this. Unless you are not watching the fiscal space, you will see that these monies are used to buy dollars.
“My concern is that it is coming at a time when we have defaulted on our external debts, and since we have defaulted on it, one would have thought we should be seeing a lot of forex, but that is not the case,” Dr. Forson added.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, has voiced apprehensions regarding the government’s management of the Ghanaian cedi, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, foreseeing potential disruption to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program by year-end.
Dr. Forson criticized the government’s fiscal strategies, suggesting that efforts to stabilize the national currency are insufficient and could have adverse economic repercussions.
On Wednesday, May 15, the minority caucus raised alarm over the government’s recent borrowing of GH¢7 billion from the treasury bills market to compensate contractors outside its budgetary allocations.
According to the Minority, this practice of exceeding budget limits for political reasons is exacerbating the depreciation of the Cedi against the dollar.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, the minority leader highlighted the likelihood of the IMF program encountering setbacks, which was initially progressing well.
“I must be frank; this program is likely to veer off course by the end of this year, and rectifying it will take time. I am certain of that… let’s wait and observe. It primarily hinges on the fiscal aspect,” he remarked.
Dr. Ato Forson further elucidated that the forthcoming IMF review, pivotal for releasing the third tranche of the 3 billion External Credit Facility, would rely on outdated data from the previous year, failing to accurately reflect the current economic scenario.
“Let me be honest with you, this programme is certainly going to be derailed by the end of this year and it is going to take a while. I have no doubt about that… let’s wait and see. It is actually on the back of the fiscal,” he stated.
“They were on course but as you know the review dates back. So, the next review is going to use the data as of December last year. So the programme indicators to check whether the programme is performing or not is going to use data six months before the time of review.
“So, obviously six months before it was good. But I can tell you that based on the data and the way they are conducting the affairs of the policy going forward, there is going to be a complete commotion,” he stated.
The Minority in Parliament has expressed its disapproval of the government’s recent decision to borrow GH¢7 billion from the treasury bills market to settle contractor payments not included in its budgetary allocations.
The Minority views this move as a troubling pattern of expanding expenditure beyond budget limits for political reasons, which they believe is exacerbating the depreciation of the Cedi against the dollar.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, May 15, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson criticized the government’s spending practices, describing them as reckless, and called for stricter fiscal discipline.
Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, highlighted the timing of these expenditures, noting that they come at a time when many Ghanaians are urging the government to rein in spending.
“They are on an expenditure spree, spending money as if there is no tomorrow. In the last few days, we are aware that they have paid approximately GH¢7 billion to contractors, off-budget contractors, off-budget expenditures, GH¢7 billion.”
“They borrowed from the T-Bill market, so they borrowed the money from ordinary Ghanaians then they paid this money to these contractors, and the contractors are also not certain so they have engaged in currency substitution.”
“The contractors got Cedis and went and changed it into US dollars and kept the money because of a lack of confidence in the economy.”
Minority in Parliamenthas raised concerns about the government’s management of the National Investment Bank (NIB), alleging that it has turned into a platform primarily for members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Their apprehension arises from the recent appointment of Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, the current NPP parliamentary candidate for Manso Nkwanta, as the Managing Director of the NIB.
Adding to their worries, the caucus pointed out that the situation is exacerbated by the appointment of a politically-active individual, who had previously contested for the Fomena Member of Parliament seat, as the bank’s deputy Managing Director.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Wednesday, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, expressed reservations about such developments, emphasizing the potential implications for the bank’s operations and impartiality.
“President Akufo-Addo is destroying the governance of our country. In the sense that even banks, a typical example like the NIB has been turned into a hub where they harbour foot soldiers of the party.
You have a bank that is struggling, a bank that is almost collapsed, a bank that we know that the governance structure regime is extremely poor but we all want to nurture the bank because obviously it is a state bank.
“This president in spite of all the problems of the NIB has decided to appoint a PC, someone who is going to contest the election in six months, as the MD of the state bank, NIB.
And I am surprised at the governor – Governor Addison the printer, also had the temerity to approve such a person to become the MD of the NIB.
“The deputy of the same politically exposed person, who is now the MD of the NIB, is also another politically exposed person,” he stated.
Tweneboah Kodua Fokuo has assured that he is capable of effectively managing both roles without conflict.
As the newly appointed Managing Director of the National Investment Bank (NIB) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, Fokuo emphasized his ability to balance responsibilities.
Having previously served as the Deputy MD of the bank, he expressed confidence in his time management skills and affirmed that neither role wouldhinder his performance in the other.
The Minority in Parliament has expressed concern over the ongoing challenges facing the Ghana Cedi, warning that the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
They highlighted that the local currency has now reached GH₵15 against the dollar, leading traders to pass on the increased costs to consumers.
This has resulted in a noticeable surge in the prices of goods and services across various commercial districts such as Okaishie, Abossey Okai, and Kejetia.
Addressing journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson criticized the Economic Management Team Chairman, Dr. Bawumia, for what he perceives as a failure to address the currency’s depreciation effectively.
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the adverse impact of the Cedi’s decline on businesses, stressing the need for urgent action to stabilize the situation.
The former Deputy Finance Minister urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to hold Dr. Bawumia accountable for his performance as the head of the Economic Management Team.
He argued that Dr. Bawumia’s administration has fallen short in managing the economic challenges, particularly regarding the stability of the Cedi.
“In spite of the huge inflows of foreign exchange from the IMF and the World Bank, into the Ghanaian economy, and I’m talking of billions of Ghana cedis, billions of US dollars, the government’s action and its management of the cedi have continued to fuel steep depreciation with no end in sight unfortunately.”
“So far, the decisions of the Economic Management Team, chaired by our Vice President Alhaji Bawumia leaves a lot to be desired. The reality of the Ghanaian economy today exposes the credentials of the so-called economic wizkid who was marketed as the savior of Ghana’s economy. Alhaji Bawumia’s credibility is now tatters.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge the Vice President to quit his off-beat dancing on the campaign trail and focus on the dancing cedi. There’s a lot awaiting our country as a result of reckless mismanagement by Alhaji Bawumia’s government,” he said.
The Minority’s remarks come amidst growing concerns among traders and consumers regarding the continuous depreciation of the Cedi and its ripple effects on the cost of living.
Many traders have been forced to adjust their prices upwards to offset the increased exchange rates, further burdening consumers already grappling with economic challenges.
The Majority in Parliament faced strong criticism from the Minority for accusing them, along with Speaker Alban Bagbin, of hindering government operations.
Bagbin stopped the approval process for the government’s latest ministerial nominees, citing an interlocutory injunction from South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor, which prevents Parliament from confirming new ministerial appointments.
This action followed a presidential letter advising against forwarding the anti-gay bill to the president for assent.
The Majority expressed surprise at Bagbin’s decision, arguing that the presidency’s decision does not diminish Parliament’s authority.
In a statement, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that the President deserves respect for the legal injunctions pending before the Supreme Court.
In response to the Majority, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in a statement dated March 21, 2024, alleged that the Majority had become entangled in its own tactics.
The Minority accused the Majority of orchestrating a deliberate propaganda campaign to sway public opinion.
“After falling on its own dagger in Parliament on Wednesday, our attention has been drawn to a mischievous statement issued by the Majority Caucus blaming the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and the Minority Caucus for the development in Parliament.
“It is bizarre and unfortunate that the Majority Caucus accuses Mr. Speaker of arbitrariness and falsely claims that the Speaker and the Minority are sabotaging so-called government business.
“The Majority Caucus is engaged in deliberate distortions and grand propaganda to whip up public sentiments against the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Minority Caucus with these false claims.”
“Finally, we salute the Rt. Hon Speaker for his distinguished leadership and the very competent manner in which he continues to guide Parliament.”
The Minority in Parliament has criticized the Majority for challenging the Speaker’s decision to suspend the approval process for Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.
According to the NDC MPs, the Majority should accept responsibility for the situation rather than shifting blame. They accused the Speaker of intentionally stopping the approval process, thereby impeding the President and his government from receiving necessary support.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, March 20, the NPP MPs called on the public to condemn Speaker Alban Bagbin’s actions.
However, their counterparts, in a subsequent press statement, described their position as “bizarre and unfortunate” and urged Ghanaians to ignore their rhetoric.
The Minority reiterated that the Majority Caucus is engaging in deliberate distortions and extensive propaganda to provoke public sentiment against the Speaker.
“After falling on its own dagger in Parliament on Wednesday, our attention has been drawn to a mischievous statement issued by the Majority Caucus blaming the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and the Minority Caucus for the development in Parliament.”
“It is bizarre and unfortunate that the Majority Caucus accuses Mr. Speaker of arbitrariness and falsely claims that the Speaker and the Minority are sabotaging so-called government business.”
“The Majority Caucus is engaged in deliberate distortions and grand propaganda to whip up public sentiments against the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Minority Caucus with these false claims,” an excerpt the Minority’s statement said.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has charged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Service to swiftly investigate some seven biometric devices belonging to the Electoral Commission that have been stolen.
Addressing the press in Parliament on Tuesday, March 19, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, reported that seven biometric devices belonging to the Electoral Commission (EC) are currently missing.
These devices, he said, were intended for voter registration and verification by the EC ahead of its limited registration exercise.
“The Electoral Commission confirms that seven of the biometric devices are indeed missing. I urge the CID and the Ghana Police Service to immediately issue a statement giving us the details of their investigation so far.”
Dr. Ato Forson expressed concern about the individuals currently in possession of the devices and their motives. He warned that this situation could compromise the integrity of the upcoming elections.
“I am concerned and worried because those devices in the hands of an unknown person can compromise the future elections that Ghana will have.”
“Who knows whether this is in the hands of a political party? And who knows what that political party is doing with it? I am disturbed.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is yet to react to the issue.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has raised serious concerns about the debt burden affecting Ghana’s energy sector, stating that it poses a significant threat to the country’s economy.
Dr. Ato Forson warned that if left unaddressed, this debt could potentially lead to a complete collapse of the nation’s economy.
Speaking after President Akufo-Addo’s 2024 State of the Nation Address on Monday, March 11, the leader of the NDC Caucus in Parliament emphasized the urgent need for action to prevent further deterioration in the situation.
He expressed concern that the Ghanaian population is already suffering from the current economic crisis and cannot afford additional disruptions in the energy sector.
“The reality, Mr Speaker, is that this crippling indebtedness and the mess in the power sector, created by the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government, remains the biggest threat to the Ghanaian economy,” he said.
“This Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government owes in excess of $1.5 billion to Independent Power Producers (IPPs),” he added.
Dr. Ato Forson criticized the Akufo-Addo government for its mismanagement of the energy sector since assuming office in 2017.
He highlighted the upcoming 2024 general elections as an opportunity for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to address these issues and restore stability to the sector.
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed that renowned pen manufacturer BIC has shifted its production operations to Ivory Coast due to Ghana’s prevailing economic challenges.
Dr. Ato Forson attributed this relocation to Ghana’s ongoing economic downturn, stating that neighboring countries are now reaping the benefits of Ghana’s crisis as companies opt to move their manufacturing operations elsewhere.
Following President Akufo-Addo’s 2024 State of the Nation address on Monday, March 11, Dr. Ato Forson, who represents Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, urged the Akufo-Addo administration to swiftly implement measures to address the situation.
“Mr Speaker, I am sad to point out that the almighty BIC, the pen-producing company, has stopped producing its pens in Ghana. It has relocated its production to Ivory Coast.”
“By relocating BIC pen’s production to Ivory Coast, we have exported those jobs. This is bad news for Ghanaian employees!”
“Again, Mr Speaker, Unilever Ghana, which has for a very long time been producing its famous Lipton tea in Ghana, has stopped its tea production here. Unilever has relocated its tea production to Nigeria.”
He also highlighted the growing discontent among Ghanaian youth with the country’s management, emphasizing that this should be a significant concern for all individuals in positions of authority.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed Unilever Ghana’s plan to transfer its tea production operations to Nigeria during his concluding remarks on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s 2024 State of the Nation address on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Representing the Ajumako Enyan Essiam constituency, Dr. Ato Forson pointed out the potential for more companies to relocate amid the prevailing economic challenges in Ghana.
Expressing concern about the management of the nation under the Akufo-Addo administration, he stressed that the departure of businesses is alarming and should raise concerns among Ghanaians.
As a former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s remarks reflect the growing anxiety surrounding Ghana’s economic stability and its repercussions for local enterprises.
“Again, Mr Speaker, Unilever Ghana, which has for a very long time been producing its famous Lipton tea in Ghana, has stopped its tea production here. Unilever has relocated its tea production to Nigeria.
“We have lost jobs by exporting the Lipton tea production to Nigeria. This is bad news for Ghanaian employees! Again, Mr Speaker, Unilever Ghana has not been able to commence its Pepsodent production in Ghana after President Akufo-Addo commissioned the plant, five years ago. This is as a result of the worsening business environment,” he stated.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during a parliamentary debate on President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), criticized the administration for not fulfilling its promise to transform Ghana within the first 18 months of assuming office.
Dr. Ato Forson expressed disappointment with the government’s performance and predicted that it would be remembered as the least successful in Ghana’s history.
“Never in the history of Ghana was a government so hyped up, with massive goodwill and huge fiscal space enough to transform our country as this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Yet, this government and the NPP have gone down as the worst-performing government in the history of Ghana!
“Mr Speaker, I can say without any doubt that President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia who promised to transform Ghana within 18 months have been a monumental failure. They promised heaven but delivered hell! Mr Speaker, deep down in the hearts of members of the NPP, including my colleagues on the opposite side, they accept that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has been an unmitigated disaster!”
He criticized the government for the chaos it has caused, highlighting that the nation’s economic situation is vastly different from the positive image portrayed by the President during the SONA.
“Each time President Akufo-Addo gets the opportunity to tell the people of Ghana about how he and his government got us into this mess, he chooses to bury his head in the sand, like the proverbial ostrich. President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia pretend not to see the mess that they have created. They still live in a bubble of denial over the true state of Ghana today.
“Hon. Speaker, Parliament remains a House of record, and the record must reflect nothing but the true state of our nation. Our reality today stands in sharp contrast with the glossy picture the President depicted to the people of Ghana.”
The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has once again faced criticism from the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, over the ongoing economic challenges in the country.
Despite Dr. Bawumia’s reputation for economic expertise, Dr. Forson criticized his performance, stating that he has not lived up to expectations since taking office alongside President Akufo-Addo.
Representing Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Dr. Forson described Dr. Bawumia’s tenure as abysmal and called for accountability from Ghanaian voters in the upcoming 2024 elections.
During his contribution to the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, March 11, 2024, Dr. Ato Forson accused Dr. Bawumia of mismanaging the fiscal space inherited from the previous John Mahama government.
Dr. Forson condemned the Akufo-Addo administration’s management of the country, alleging that it has led to significant hardships for the Ghanaian populace.
“Mr Speaker, those who held various lectures on textbook management of the economy have been in charge of Ghana’s economy for the last seven years.”
“Despite “resolving” all issues of the economy at those lectures, the reality is that the economy has collapsed on the watch of Dr. Bawumia, the chief lecturer,” he said.
Leader of the Minority caucus in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has highlighted the issue of unemployment in Ghana, stating that two out of every three Ghanaians are unemployed.
He criticized President Akufo-Addo for failing to address this issue in his recent State of the Nation Address.
Dr Ato Forson noted that out of Ghana’s population of over 33 million, only about 11 million are employed, highlighting the urgent need for attention to address the high rate of unemployment.
He emphasized that both President Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, should be held accountable for this “failure.”
During his speech in Parliament following the President’s address, Dr Ato Forson urged Ghanaians to vote against President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia in the upcoming December elections.
He criticized the President for not addressing critical issues affecting the country, such as unemployment, and stated that voting for Dr Bawumia would essentially be a vote for a “third term of President Akufo-Addo.”
Dr Ato Forson expressed confidence in former President John Dramani Mahama’s ability to improve the country’s economic situation, urging Ghanaians to vote for him in the December Presidential election.
He also stated that Ghanaians would not miss President Akufo-Addo and his Vice after the end of their tenure.
In a biting critique of President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial reshuffle the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has taken aim at what he perceives as an expansion of the government’s size.
The appointment in question is that of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been named as the Senior Presidential Adviser and Special Envoy for International Trade.
Dr. Ato Forson voiced his disapproval after President Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nation Address today in Parliament, emphasizing the perceived consequences of the president’s decision.
“Our president, following the recent ministerial reshuffle, has increased the size of government,” he remarked. “Mr. Speaker, today we have a Minister for Finance Domestic and Minister for Finance International.”
The recent appointment has been condemned by many. Renowned Ghanaian economist Kwame Pianim described the appointment as unfortunate, stating that it has eroded the goodwill that came with the recent reshuffle of ministers.
Ofori-Atta was relieved of his position as Finance Minister on Wednesday, February 14, and replaced by Mohammed Amin Adam. Subsequently, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, announced Ofori-Atta’s new role in a statement dated February 15.
Speaking on the AM Show, Mr Pianim, a leading member of the NPP, expressed his disapproval of the appointment, emphasizing that it was not a wise decision.
“Ken Ofori-Atta going is good for the optics. But the person who led us into the financial and economic crisis that we are in, we haven’t been here before… there has never been a time where Ghana has not been able to pay its bills and we are not going to start paying them until 2025 and this is the same guy who gets us kicked out of the Eurobond market, how can he be an envoy?
“I think Nana (President Akufo-Addo) knows that the international community are not that gullible so you don’t send him there. We don’t have an economy now, so what is he going to advise on?
“Too many people are walking around the Presidency. Let’s remove them. Both governments when they come, they remove a minister and he becomes special adviser at the presidency. We don’t want that,” he stressed.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed that Ghanaians are looking forward to the end of Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
In a brief statement, after President Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nation Address, Dr Ato Forson remarked, “Ghanaians will not miss President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia. We know you are going. We can only wish you bye bye. But you will never be missed.”
Dr Ato Forson specifically criticized the high unemployment rate in Ghana, stating that peasant farmers are facing significant challenges.
The Minority Leader also chided the president for bloating his ministerial team with his recent appointment to former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
President Akufo-Addo has appointed Ofori-Atta as Presidential Advisor to the President on the Economy.
According to Dr Ato Forson, “Our president following the recent ministerial reshuffle has increased the size of government. Mr Speaker today we have a Minister for Finance Domestic and Minister for Finance International.”
Despite Akufo-Addo’s assertions of his government’s achievements, including a stable exchange rate, implementation of free Senior High School education, and strides in digitalization, the opposition remains critical of his tenure.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, expressed a sense of regret at the departure of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu from his role as Majority Leader, noting the surprise it brought to Parliament due to its unexpected nature.
Despite the surprise, Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the importance of respecting Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s decision and refraining from criticism.
Addressing Parliament after the formal announcement of the former Majority Leader’s resignation, Dr. Ato Forson praised Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s extensive knowledge and experience in Parliamentary practices and procedures, acknowledging that his expertise is unmatched by few.
“Having been Deputy Majority Whip, Majority Chief Whip, Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Minority Leader, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, he rose full cycle through all the ranks of both Minority and Majority front bench of this august House.”
“Many, including my good self, will attest to his outstanding leadership, brilliance rigour and attention to detail. His uniquely humane and personable nature have always commanded the respect and admiration of his colleagues, he said.
During a session in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame, formally announced his resignation as Majority Leader.
He made it clear that his decision was entirely personal and not influenced by any external pressure, contrary to some media reports.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged members of the Majority Caucus to offer their full support to his successor, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, by providing all necessary assistance.
“On Wednesday, February 21, at a meeting with the caucus and the President, I formally announced my decision to resign as the Majority Leader in order to still the storm and facilitate the peace and unity for the party at this time,” he said.
