Ato Forson ambulance trial: Former Health Minister Alex Segbefia is next defence witness

A former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia has been scheduled to testify in the trial of former Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, as the next defence witness on November 9, 2023.

At the hearing on October 26, 2023, Counsel for Ato Forson, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe notified the court about the defence’s decision to withdraw three witnesses that had earlier been billed to testify for their client.

A former Comptroller and Accountant General, Seidu Kotomah, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, Patrick Nomo, and a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah were to testify in succession. But Edudzi Tamakloe noted that in their place, former Health Minister Alex Segbefia will testify.

He prayed for adjournment to November 9, since the former Health Minister was out of town until then.

But Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe noted that Alex Segbefia had been served with a witness summons and was to appear on November 2, hence was surprised he had travelled without notifying the court.

Mr Tamakloe apologized on behalf of Alex Segbefia citing an emergency situation as the reason for his absence.

The case has since been adjourned to November 9 for Alex Segbefia to give his witness testimony.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who is currently Minority Leader, has been charged with causing financial loss of 2.3 million euros to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Finance Minister.

Two others, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, and Richard Jakpa, a businessman are also standing trial for various roles in the matter.

All three have, however, pleaded not guilty to five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.

According to the prosecution, Dr Forson, who allegedly wrote letters of credit of €3.95million to the central bank for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea, played an integral part in the resultant financial loss to the state since the ambulances procured were not fit for purpose.