Court of Appeal’s ruling confirms that the whole case was political persecution – Mahama

The Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in the ambulance case, according to former president John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), validates his long-held belief that the entire case was a political prosecution.

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal cleared Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the former Deputy Minister of Finance, who was on trial for allegedly defrauding the state out of €2.37 million in an ambulance transaction.

The second highest court in the nation ruled by a majority of 2-1 that the prosecution had not established a sufficient case for Dr. Forson to respond.

Former President Mahama commented on the matter on social media, writing, “Good news coming from the Court of Appeal.”

After assuming office, Mr. Mahama promised to “appoint a fair minded Minister for Justice who will work with the legal fraternity and the Judicial Council to carry out reforms to ensure we have a truly independent judiciary we can all be proud of.”

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Richard Jakpa, a disturbed businessman and the third defendant in the €2.37 million ambulance case, thinks Ghana still has judges that uphold integrity and morality in the course of their work.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, following his and former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson’s acquittal and discharge from the Court of Appeal, Mr. Jakpa said that some judges uphold their integrity in the face of outside pressure.

“What I will tell Ghanaians is that we still have judges of integrity in our legal system. We still have them, even though this government has managed to capture the judicial system. We still have other judges who maintain their integrity. So there is still hope for Ghana.”

Judge Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s decision to provide the accused the opportunity to present their case on March 30, 2023, was deemed incorrect by a three-member Court of Appeal panel, which rendered the result by a majority vote of 2-1.

The sitting judge, Justice Poku Acheampong, denied their plea, but Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah approved it, dismissing and discharging them.

In a statement issued by the Attorney General shortly after the ruling, Godfred Dame indicated that his office “considers the decision of the Court of Appeal to be perverse in the quest for public accountability and the rule of law. The decision clearly is heavily against the weight of the cogent evidence led by the prosecution in substantiation of all the charges against the accused persons at the trial.”

The AG, who proceeded to narrate what he said are the ‘relevant facts of the matter’, concluded that “The Office of the Attorney-General considers the decision of the Court of Appeal grossly unfair to the nation and inimical to the fight against impunity and abuse in public office. The Office will promptly file an appeal in order to erase the effect of this erroneous decision of the Court of Appeal.”

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com