Abraham Amaliba, Director of Conflict Resolution for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has lambasted Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, accusing him of causing Ghana financial loss in the high-profile ambulance case involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Amaliba’s criticism follows the Court of Appeal’s July 30 acquittal and discharge of Dr Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Amaliba argued that the Attorney General’s decision to reject a €2.7 million refund offer from the company embroiled in the case has proven detrimental to Ghana’s finances.
According to Amaliba, the company had proposed to reimburse the government €2 million received for the ambulances and an additional €700,000 in exchange for reclaiming their vehicles.
However, the Attorney General opted to pursue prosecution rather than accept the refund.
Amaliba questioned the rationale behind the AG’s AG’s stance, suggesting that accepting the refund would have benefited Ghana more economically.
He contended that continuing with the prosecution only added unnecessary financial burdens to the state, including expenses for legal proceedings and care for the accused.
“Today, with the court’s ruling and the accused persons walking free, wouldn’t it have been wiser for the AG to accept the €2.7 million and allow the company to retrieve their vehicles? Wouldn’tWouldn’t Ghana be in a better financial position instead of pursuing imprisonment?” Amaliba remarked.
He further criticized the AG’sAG’s handling of the case, asserting that the refusal to accept the refund amounted to causing financial loss to the state.
The ambulance case has sparked considerable controversy in Ghanaian political circles, highlighting ongoing debates over prosecutorial decisions and their financial implications for the state.
