Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen, has called on Attorney General Godfred Dame to appeal the recent Court of Appeal decision that acquitted and discharged Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa in the ambulance trial.
The Court of Appeal overturned the earlier High Court ruling, acquitting Dr. Forson, the Minority Leader, who was accused of causing a €2.37 million financial loss to the state through an ambulance deal.
In a 2-1 majority ruling on July 30, 2024, the court found that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case, thus no need for Dr. Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, to present a defense. Richard Jakpa, a businessman tried alongside Dr. Forson, was also acquitted and discharged.
John Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), welcomed the decision, asserting it confirmed his belief that the prosecution was politically motivated.
He praised the ruling as a victory for the rule of law and expressed a commitment to judicial reforms if elected, including appointing a fair-minded Minister for Justice.
In response, Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen expressed surprise at Mahama’s positive reaction towards the judiciary, noting Mahama’s previous criticisms regarding judicial bias and unfairness.