Ato Forson trial: NDC is just diverting attention; the real facts are before the court – NPP MP
Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of seeking to divert attention from the real issues in the case against the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forsdon.
Mr Chinnia indicated that the real facts are before the court.
“The facts are before the court, the NDC is only using the statement of the third accused to divert attention from the real issue,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 25.
He added, “If it is established that the A-G called the accused then it will be a professional issue, it has nothing to do with the substantive issue.”
His comments come at a time when the National Communications Officer of the NDC Sammy Gyamfi accused Attorney-General of fabrication of a crime against the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
He accused the A-G of falsifying the testimonies of Richard Jakpa, an accused person so that he could incriminate Ato Forson.
“Godffed Dame will not only be the only first A-G to be reported to the General Legal Council (GLC) but he will also be prosecuted for fabrication of a crime,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 24.
Sammy Gyamfi further said Godfred Dame could not utter a word when a revelation was made that he asked Richard Jakpa to help him to make a case against the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the ambulance trial.
Sammy Gyamfi said that Godfred Dame shivered when the revelation was made and could not even call for the comment to be struck out from the court’s record.
His comments come at a time the A-G has said that pressure was mounted on him from all manner of people to drop the case against Ato Forson.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 24, Sammy Gyamfi said: “These are the words of a liar, desire Godfred Dame…he couldn’t utter a word totally silent, Godfred Dame the coward was shivering in his seat, and couldn’t say anything.”
It is recalled that Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah Yeboah had said that the Republic has never required or desired the cooperation of any of the accused persons.
The Deputy A-G said this while revealing that the third accused person in the ongoing ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, initiated plea bargaining through several requests to the state through the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame Yeboah.
The A-G said the plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted.
Dr. Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana as well as private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for willfully causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.
The state has, however, discontinued the case against Sylvester Amemana.
During court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, Mr Jakpa fumed at the Attorney-General for accusing him of defending the Minority Leader in his testimony.
The businessman, who was under cross-examination by counsel for the Minority Leader, had earlier been warned by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe to be direct in his responses rather than going around it and wasting the Court’s time.
Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, reacting to the judge’s caution, accused Richard Jakpa of defending the Minority Leader.
This triggered the third accused, who retorted that the Attorney-General appeared pained because he had engaged him to help the state make a case against Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
From : 3 News
