Ato Forson trial: Ambulance contract tailored to meet government specifications - Jakpa

Richard Jakpa, a businessman involved in the ambulance trial featuring Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, asserts that the ambulance contract was tailor-made to meet government specifications.

He attributed this to the contract being drafted by the government, not by Big Sea Trading LLC, the ambulance supplier.

During cross-examination led by Godfred Dame Yeboah, the Attorney General, Jakpa stated that the contract had been reviewed by the then Office of the Attorney-General and approved for the government to proceed.

Dr. Forson, along with Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, and Jakpa, are charged with causing financial loss to the State.

The State later filed a nolle prosequi to discontinue the charges against Dr. Anemana, who is currently abroad for medical treatment.

Dr. Forson was granted self-recognizance bail of GH¢3 million for allegedly willfully causing a financial loss of 2,370,000 euros to the State. He also faces an additional charge of "intentionally misapplying public property," contrary to section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD140).

Jakpa argued that if there were any issues with the contract not conforming to specifications, Big Sea should not be blamed; instead, the Attorney-General's office should assume responsibility.

He claimed that the contract underwent all necessary approvals, including those from the Cabinet, Parliament, and the Public Procurement Authority, with due diligence ensuring adherence to all specifications.

However, the Attorney General contested this, presenting documentation that indicated neither Cabinet nor Parliament had granted approval to Big Sea Trading LLC.

Jakpa maintained that the government drafted the contract and that the Ministry of Health, after evaluating the costs, was satisfied with the value for money.

He emphasized that Parliament, comprising members from both the NPP and NDC, voted for the project in good conscience after approving the technical specifications.

The Prosecution alleged that 2.3 million euros, equating to the profit, was paid under the ambulance contract to Jakpa and Big Sea, which resulted in the failure to deliver the correct ambulances to the State a claim Jakpa disputed.

He refuted the Attorney General's assertion that Big Sea General Trading LLC received payment before the ambulances' delivery, clarifying that no payment was made to the company on November 26, 2014.

Jakpa accused the Attorney-General of misinterpreting the technical aspects of the contract and noted that a letter from Madam Sherry Ayittey, a former Minister for Health of Ghana, halting the production of the ambulances, was succeeded by a letter from Big Sea General Trading LLC, informing the government of the potential financial loss to the State.

Contrary to the Prosecution's claim that the Ministry of Health never requested authorization from the Ministry of Finance to establish a Letter of Credit, Jakpa asserted that there was authorization through the legal opinion provided by the Attorney-General.