The Accra High Court has directed Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader in Parliament, to file his witness statements by May 4, 2023.
The State is also expected to file its disclosures by April 21.
Dr Forson is standing trial with others in respect of the purchase of 200 ambulances for the country. They are alleged to have caused 2.37 million Euros financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of 200 ambulances.
The Minority Leader, through his counsel, had prayed to the court to grant them leave to file 9 witness statements as he opens his defence in the case.
The lawyer for the Minority Leader said their disclosures would include warrants of payment, which gave details of persons who authorised payments for the purchase of the ambulances.
The filing of the witness is expected to pave the way for the case management conference.
However, when the case was called, lawyers for Dr Forson said they were unable to have ‘conference’ with some of the witnesses who were outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Two other accused, former Chief Director of Ministry of Health, Seth Anemana, and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, are expected to call six and five witnesses respectively.
Justice Afua Serwa Asare-Botwe who presided over the court asked why Dr Forson’s witnesses could not type their statements and scan it to him so that they could be filed.
The trial judge indicated that by August 31, 2023, the trial would be completed.
The accused are standing trial for allegedly willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million Euros to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.
They were involved in a transaction to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
They have denied the charges and are on bail. —GNA
