The National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Director of Conflict Resolution, Abraham Amaliba, criticized Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame for costing the state money in the ambulance case involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Mr. Amaliba’s remarks follow the Court of Appeal’s July 30 acquittal and release of Dr. Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Mr. Amaliba claimed that Ghana has suffered financial loss as a result of the AG’s rejection to accept a reimbursement of 2.7 million euros from the case’s implicated corporation.
He asserted that Dr. Ato Forson was being intentionally targeted for persecution through the court process.
The Director of Conflict Resolution clarified that the corporation had consented to return their ambulances and repay the government for two million euros plus an extra seven hundred thousand euros.
The AG, however, turned down this offer and decided to press charges instead.
Mr. Amaliba questioned the AG’s judgement, arguing that Ghana would have benefited more from taking the refund.
He pointed out that pursuing the case would simply result in further financial strain on the state to take care of the accused’s clothing, food, and medical needs.
“Jakpa has not signed any agreement with the government of Ghana. Jakpa is just an agent of a company that entered an agreement with Ghana…In fact, the principal, in the course of this matter, the principal agrees to even pay back the money they collected from the government, which is 2 million euros, they added some 7 [hundred] as well, so that’s 2.7 million euros and then they can take back their vehicles, but you refused.”
“That’s for me is what I will call causing financial loss to the state on the part of the Attorney General. Today, with the ruling that we have and the fact that the two accused persons are walking freely, wouldn’t it have been better for you the AG to accept these 2.7 million euros and ask them to take their vehicles back? Wouldn’t Ghana be richer than you insisting to put somebody in jail?”