The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has reacted to a suit by the Attorney- General, accusing him of causing financial loss to the state.
In a Facebook post on Thursday evening, the Member of Parliament for the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that even though he has taken note of the criminal charges leveled against him, the development will not cause him to develop cold feet in his advocacy against the “repressive policies” of the government.
“My attention has been drawn to the widely circulated stories suggesting that the Akufo-Addo government has brought criminal charges against me. I shall not be distracted by the machinations of the State just because I stand with the good people of Ghana to oppose repressive policies of this government”, Dr. Forson said.
The legislator also added that he’ll engage the press on Friday, December 24, to respond appropriately to the suit filed against him by the Attorney-General on Thursday.
“As I prepare to fully address the matter tomorrow at a press briefing, I urge all right thinking members of our society to remain calm”, Dr. Forson stated.
On Thursday, December 23, the Attorney-General’s office filed criminal charges including causing financial loss to the state against Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, under Prof. Atta Mills-John Dramani Mahama administration. The charges also included Sylvestre Anemana, Chief Director at the Ministry of Health at the time of the contract and a businessman, Richard Jakpa.
The case relates to the procurement of 200 ambulances by the Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama led government. Documents filed by the AG’s office trace the events culminating into the alleged crimes to an announcement made in the 2009 State of the National Address regarding plans to procure ambulances for the country.
The AG said following this address, the Ministry of Health (MOH) initiated action to acquire more ambulances. The 3rd accused person, Richard Jakpa is said to have used his company, Jakpa at Business, to present a proposal and Term Loan to the Ministry of Health which he claimed to have arranged from Stanbic Bank to finance the supply of the 200 ambulances to the government.
Cabinet, according to the AG, gave an Executive Approval for the project. However, it emerged later that the ambulances had some defects which render them not fit for purpose.
