The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has justified his decision to discontinue the trial of Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, stating that he was a victim of political persecution. 

According to Dr Ayine, his reassessment of the case revealed no legal basis for continuing the prosecution.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Dr Ayine explained his rationale for dropping several high-profile cases involving political figures, particularly members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). 

He emphasised that he had been closely involved in the legal proceedings against Dr Ato Forson from the outset and was well-informed about the details of the case.

“I believed then, and still believe now, that Hon. Ato Forson was a victim of a political witch-hunt and that he has no case to answer in this trial,” he asserted. Dr Ayine further argued that the case lacked legal merit, citing a Court of Appeal ruling that found the trial court had erred in calling upon the accused persons to present a defence. 

He dismissed the previous Attorney-General’s appeal against this ruling as an attempt to “save face” and described it as legally unsound.

The Attorney-General’s decision to drop the case was formalised two weeks ago when his office issued a notice to discontinue the controversial ambulance trial involving Dr Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused. 

This followed the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which acquitted and discharged both men.

Background

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa had been accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a transaction involving the procurement of 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016. 

At the time, Dr Ato Forson served as Deputy Finance Minister, while Mr Jakpa acted as a local representative for Big Sea General Trading Limited, a Dubai-based firm.

The two had pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetting financial loss, violating the Public Procurement Act, and misapplying public funds. 

However, with the Attorney-General’s intervention, the trial has now been discontinued, bringing an end to the legal proceedings against them.