Accusing Attorney-General (A-G) Godfred Dame of negligence in retrieving funds from Big Sea Trading LLC, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu warned that the failure to recover the €2 million could lead to criminal charges for causing financial loss under a new government. This warning underscores the urgency of the situation and the potential serious consequences of inaction.
Kpebu’s remarks, made during an interview on TV3’s Key Points, followed the impactful Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa in the controversial ambulance procurement case.
Kpebu criticized Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe of the High Court for not halting proceedings after it was revealed that A-G Dame had engaged in discussions with Jakpa.
“If Godfred Dame doesn’t retrieve the money from Big Sea, he will face prosecution for financial loss,” Kpebu asserted, emphasizing the potential legal consequences of the Attorney-General’s inaction.
The case centred on allegations that Forson, Jakpa, and Sylvester Anemana caused the state a €2.37 million loss through the purchase of non-functional ambulances. Despite the prosecution’s initial case, the Court of Appeal ruled that there was insufficient evidence for continuing the trial, overturning the High Court’s decision to order the defendants to open their defence.
In response to the Court of Appeal’s findings, Kpebu praised the decision as preventing further embarrassment and criticized Justice Asare-Botwe’s handling of the trial.
As the controversy surrounding ambulance procurement persists, stakeholders continue to stress the crucial need for accountability and transparency in government contracts to safeguard against financial mismanagement. This emphasis underscores the importance of these principles in maintaining public trust and preventing financial loss.
