Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has voiced support for the live broadcasting of the trial involving Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader and former Deputy Minister of Finance.
This case, which has captured public interest, centers around allegations that Dr. Forson authorized payments for defective ambulances, leading to financial loss for the state.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, Tuah-Yeboah emphasized the Attorney-General’s commitment to transparency and accountability. “We believe in accountability and we abhor misreporting. If the Chief Justice in her wisdom decides that this matter should be live, we have no objection,” he stated. He further noted, “The AG has indicated at different forums that when it comes to public interest matters, it is in the interest of justice that such proceedings are broadcast live on television and radio.”
Tuah-Yeboah also highlighted the Attorney-General’s preference for day-to-day hearings to expedite the trial process, aiming for a swift resolution to the case.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the primary defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, has instructed his legal team to formally request that the Chief Justice televise the remainder of the trial. This appeal was communicated through a letter from his lawyers, Aziz Bamba and Associates, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The request follows recent accusations of misconduct against Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
In a related development, lawyers for Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ambulance case, have filed an application seeking either to strike out the charges against him or to stay the proceedings. Jakpa, in his witness statement, testified under oath that Attorney-General Dame assured him of his innocence and promised his acquittal. Jakpa further alleged that his inclusion in the prosecution was a strategic move to obscure the real intentions behind the trial, purportedly driven by pressure from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and then Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to prosecute Dr. Ato Forson.
Jakpa is seeking the court’s permission to testify on these matters and to be cross-examined, shedding light on the alleged behind-the-scenes maneuvers influencing the case.
As the trial progresses, all eyes are on the legal proceedings, with the potential live broadcast poised to offer the public a transparent view of this high-profile case.