Ambulance trial: My company was paid €700,000 for agency work - Richard Jakpa

Richard Jakpa, the businessman accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in an ambulance deal with Minority Leader Ato Forson, has admitted that his company received 28.7% of the amount paid by the government to Big Sea under the Ambulance contract.

This amounts to approximately €700,000.

Mr. Jakpa made this admission during cross-examination by the Attorney General (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame.

When questioned about the Agency Agreement signed with Big Sea Limited, which entitled him to 10% of all monies paid under the Ambulance Contract, Mr. Jakpa responded, "That is so, but it is not my total entitlement. I was entitled to more by other clauses under the Agreement."

Mr. Dame further pressed, "Out of the about €2.3 million paid by the Government to Big Sea under the Ambulance Contract, you and Jakpa at Business earned 28.7% of it. In fact, about €700,000 was paid to you."

Jakpa stated, "Yes, that was the amount paid to Jakpa at Business as an Agent."

Additionally, Mr. Jakpa refuted allegations that he approached Big Sea for the purchase of ambulances after receiving parliamentary approval.

He clarified that Big Sea was already known to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance prior to the approval.

He pointed out that the agency agreement between Big Sea and Jakpa@Business Limited was established on May 24, 2011, whereas parliamentary approval for the ambulance procurement occurred on November 1, 2012, more than a year later.

The ongoing trial involves a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, alongside a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Sylvester Anemana, and Richard Jakpa.

They have been accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.

Dr. Forson, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam and the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, faces charges alongside his co-accused.

On November 19, 2012, Mr. Anemana is said to have written to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of 200 ambulances.

By an agreement dated December 19, 2012, the Ministry of Health formally contracted Big Sea General Trading, based in Dubai, for the supply of 200 Mercedes Benz ambulances at a contract sum of €15.8 million, with a unit price of €79,000.

The delivery terms stipulated that the first batch of 25 vehicles should be delivered within 120 days of the agreement, with the remaining 175 vehicles to be delivered in batches of 25 every 30 days.

EK