Charles Owusu has praised the presiding judge in the case involving Attorney-General Godfred Dame and Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, concerning the purchase of 200 ambulances for Ghana.
The Attorney-General has sued the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, and one Richard Jakpa at the High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe.
Richard Jakpa is on trial with Dr. Ato Forson over an alleged financial loss to the state.
They are 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.
According to the A-G’s facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.
Richard Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of the 200 ambulances, but subsequently, 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of €2.37 million; however, all were found "not fit for purpose."
However, Richard Jakpa claimed the A-G approached him to help build a case against Dr. Ato Forson, who was a former Deputy Finance Minister during the time of the ambulance procurement.
Jakpa had recorded the A-G’s private telephone conversation with him regarding the case.
"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 Pandora's box."
"I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when I’m here to defend myself," Jakpa said in court.
The audio recording, which was tendered in court, contains no incriminating evidence against the A-G, according to the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe.
Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, however, assured all parties that justice would prevail in the trial.
Commenting on the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show, Charles Owusu expressed strong faith in the competence and unwavering boldness of the judge to deliver a verdict on the case.
He warned the parties against toying with the words of the judge, stressing, "don't joke with her."
"When a matter is before court, it is about law, not aggressiveness," he stated.
