The High Court in Accra has turned down a plea from Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, seeking permission to be absent from court proceedings on Tuesday, November 21, to participate in the 2024 Budget Review.
Dr. Forson, alongside Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, and private businessman Richard Dzakpa, is facing trial for an alleged willful causing of financial loss to the state in a €2.37 million ambulance transaction. Dr. Forson concluded presenting his defense on Thursday, November 16.
Following the closure of Dr. Forson’s case, Dr. Anemana, the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, commenced presenting his defense and is currently undergoing cross-examination.
The court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal serving as an additional High Court judge, had initially adjourned the proceedings to Tuesday, November 21.
However, Dr. Forson, represented by his lawyer, Godwin Edudzie Tamekloe, who stood in for lead counsel Dr. Abdul Aziz Bamba, requested permission for his absence during this period. The court rejected the request.
“My Lady, just before your pen rise, I want to draw the Court’s attention to the presentation of the 2024 Budget” and that the first accused would be involved in post presentation activities on Tuesday.
He therefore requested the court to excuse his client from the session on Tuesday, November 21.
But, the trial judge rejected the request and said, “no accused would be tried in his absence,” and the case will proceed as scheduled.
The Court said “We will try and finish this case by December 31, and we come back in February 2024 for judgement.”