Ambulances were in good condition when they arrived in Ghana – Jakpa clarifies

Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial, has claimed that the ambulances imported into the nation were in good condition.

He asserts that the statements made by Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, are untrue.

On Tuesday, July 2, during the prosecution’s cross-examination in court, he made this declaration.

Additionally, Mr. Jakpa denied the Attorney General’s assertion that the necessary cars were not provided.

The third accused denied any knowledge of the August 10, 2015, letter from then-Minister of Health Alex Segbefia claiming that Big Sea Company Ltd. had supplied thirty ambulances that did not satisfy specifications.

He clarified that the letter was out of date because Big Sea and the government had addressed and resolved the issues it raised in great detail.

“To quote a 2015 letter which has been dealt with is very, very irrelevant,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Jakpa refuted the assertion that the first ambulance shipment arrived in 2014.

He said that Alex Segbefia, the health minister at the time, gave a wrong  arrival date for the ambulances.

He said Big Sea had said they expected the first delivery of ambulances by April 2015.

The Attorney General said, however, that the first ten ambulances arrived in December 2014 and were not suitable to be transformed into ambulances.

Mr. Jakpa responded by saying that wasn’t true.

He clarified that the ambulances were unfit for service because their original purpose was to be parked in a secure location so that paramedics could receive training and accessories installed.

Mr. Jakpa contended that ambulances that had not been formally turned over could not be the subject of a post-delivery inspection by the government.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com