Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has concluded his defence in the “willfully causing financial loss to the state” case after calling three witnesses.
He is standing trial alongside co-accused Sylvester Anemana and Richard Jakpa.
Dr. Ato Forson had initially informed the court of his intention to call nine witnesses, including notable figures such as Mr. Alex Segbefia, a former Minister of Health, Dr. Henry Akpenamawu Kofi Wampah, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and Mr. Seidu Kotomah, a former Controller and Accountant-General.
However, during the court session on Thursday, November 16, 2023, Godwin Tamakloe, representing Ato Forson, conveyed a change in strategy.
“The first accused wishes to inform the court that he is calling no further witness and that he is closing his case,” stated Mr. Tamakloe.
In the course of his defence, Cassiel Ato Forson presented three witnesses to support his case, including Henry Myles Mills from Stanbic Bank, Alex Mould, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Seth Terkper, the former Minister for Finance in the John Mahama administration.
Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal with additional responsibilities as a High Court Judge, acknowledged the decision of the defence team and proceeded to instruct the second accused person, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former senior official at the Ministry of Health, to begin presenting his defence.