Ato Forson is accused of violating a contract

Ato Forson is accused of violating a contract by the Health Minister.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a former deputy minister of finance, is accused of breaking the terms of the contract governing the delivery of ambulances to the ministry by Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the minister of health.

The minister testified that the defendants “instructed” the Bank of Ghana to obtain a letter of credit for more than €3 million in favor of Big Sea. The defendants, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and two others, are on trial for causing the state financial harm in connection with an ambulance contract.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, was guiding the witness, who claimed that the conduct was outside the terms of the contract.

He clarified that the contract called for payment to be withheld until the delivery of the automobiles.

Dr. Forson is on trial alongside Sylvester Anemana, a former chief director of the ministry of health, and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, for allegedly causing the state to lose $2.37 million in a deal to buy 200 ambulances for the nation between 2014 and 2016. Dr. Forson is also the NDC’s representative in parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam and the ranking member of the finance committee.

They have, however, entered a not guilty plea to five charges of knowingly causing the state to suffer financial loss, aiding in the purposeful cause of the state to suffer financial loss, violating the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misusing public property.

Assurances of credit

According to the prosecution, Dr. Forson contributed to the state’s financial loss by requesting letters of credit from the BoG for €3.95 million for the delivery of 50 ambulances on behalf of Big Sea. This was because the ambulances the state had purchased were unfit for their intended use.

According to the health minister’s testimony, letters of credit had to be created once the contract for the purchase of the three ambulances was signed in order to start the implementation process.

Nevertheless, the minister said in court that Big Sea submitted notices of its plan to sue the government to the Minister of Justice, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Minister of Health owing to delays.

The minister further stated in testimony that, at the time, the ministry of health responded that it was unable to carry out the contract because, according to the financing agreement approved by parliament, funding should come from the Stanbic Bank, adding, “As of the time, the ministry has not been informed of any credit agreement between Ministry of Health and Stanbic Bank.”