The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is facing trial for his alleged involvement in the procurement of ambulances that were deemed unfit for use.
He is accused of approving letters of credit for the purchase of the ambulances without proper due diligence.
However, some prominent voices have questioned the motive and merit of the prosecution, calling it a form of political persecution.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed his concern about the way the case against Dr. Ato Forson is unfolding, saying that it is a gamble that may or may not succeed.
He also warned of the potential chilling effect of such prosecutions on political leaders who have to take risks and make decisions in difficult situations.
He said that if approving letters of credit could lead to prosecution, then there would be tribulation and nobody would have the courage to come out boldly.
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Another voice that has spoken in support of Dr. Ato Forson is Bright Simons, the Vice President of IMANI Africa, a policy think tank.
He wrote on X that the Speaker boldly said what every objective person suspects: that the prosecution of the Leader of the Opposition benches in the Ghanaian Parliament is politically motivated.
He argued that approving letters of credit does not equal supervising the underlying transaction, and that there is no evidence that Dr. Ato Forson was aware or responsible for the defects in the ambulances.
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The trial of Dr. Ato Forson has raised questions about the independence and fairness of the judicial system, as well as the role and responsibility of political leaders in public procurement.
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It remains to be seen how the case will be resolved and what implications it will have for the future of Ghanaian democracy.
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