Ato Forson’s trial: case adjourned to January 18 due to unavailability of one accused person

The trial involving former Deputy Finance Minister, and MP for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Cassiel Ato Forson and two others has been adjourned to tomorrow, January 18, because one of the accused persons, Sylvester Anemana failed to show up in court due to health issues.

Mr. Sylvester Anemana’s lawyer told the Court that his client had a condition and therefore goes for medical care on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The former Deputy Finance Minister and two others have been charged with causing financial loss to the state.

The two are Sylvester Anemana, former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health and a Businessman, Richard Jakpa.

They have thus been charged on the counts of willfully causing financial loss to the Republic, abetment of crime, contravention of the public procurement act and intentionally misapplying public property.

According to the suit filed by the Attorney General, the charge relates to the procurement of 200 Ambulances during the Professor Atta Mills-led Administration. Read more

After the suit was filed, at a press conference, the former Minister described the charges against him as a frivolous and politically motivated, that it is an attempt by the President and the AG to silence him relative to the performance of his role as ranking member of Parliament’s Finance committee.

Present also in Court today, were a number of colleague NDC MP’s of the former Minister.

They included a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muhammed Mubarak Muntaka, and the MP for Cape Coast South, Mr George Kwesu Ricketts-Hagan, and the MP for Ellembele, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, told reporters that prosecution of NDC MPs will not affect their quest to hold the government accountable.

“Nothing more than trying to intimidate the minority out of their difficulties. But this is not going to change anything.
In fact, it makes us even more resolute because we know that the game is to intimidate, frustrate and think that they can weaken our spirit, no they can’t. In fact, they are rather strengthening and glue us together,” he said.