The Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited, Nana Akomea, has brushed aside suggestions that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has targeted the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who is the prime suspect in the ongoing ambulance trial.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Metro TV’s ‘Good Morning Ghana’ programme, Nana Akomea insisted that the trial of the Minority Leader is justified.
He indicated that the then John Dramani Mahama government ordered the purchase of 200 ambulances worth $2 million, but what Ghana received were ordinary trucks.
“The impression is being given as if Ato Forson is being targeted. Why would anybody target him?” Akomea, a Deputy Chairperson of the Campaign Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, questioned.
He added that “… The end effect was not achieved. We were supposed to buy ambulances… We are in court because we were supposed to pay 2 million for ambulances; we paid the 2 million, and what arrived were not ambulances. If they were ambulances, there would be no case as we speak.”
Nana Akomea also refuted assertions that the then Minister of Health should be the one being prosecuted by the state if indeed the vehicles purchased to be used as ambulances were defective, because he ordered the procurement and Ato Forson, as Deputy Minister for Finance, only issued Letters of Credit (LCs) for the transaction at the instance of the then Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who was the co-panellist on the Metro TV programme, insisted that Ato Forson had been targeted because Seth Terkper had stated in court that he instructed him (Ato Forson) to issue LCs, and the then Minister of Health, who ordered the procurement of the vehicles, has not been charged with any crime.
But Akomea insisted that the evidence of the Office of the Attorney General points to Ato Forson as the person who has caused financial loss to the state.
He added that if indeed Ato Forson committed no crime, the court should be allowed to hear the matter and give its judgment.
Watch a video of the discussion below:
