The third accused person in the ongoing ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, has denied receiving 50 percent of the €2.3 million paid under the ambulance contract.
The businessman who was under cross-examination described the claims put to him by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, as false.
He made this statement when he was
cross-examined in court on Tuesday, July 2.
Mr. Godfred Dame has put it to the accused that between Big Sea Company Ltd. and Mr. Jakpa, he [Mr. Jakpa] received about 50 percent of the total sum paid under the ambulance contract by the government.
He also alleged that it was for that reason that Mr. Jakpa did not deliver genuine ambulances to the country.
But responding, Mr. Jakpa described the claims as false, adding that Big Sea incurred a significant loss on the contract.
“My Lord, what the prosecution is alleging is completely false,” he said.
He also told the court that the contract went through various stages of approval and negotiations with the government over several years, noting that the first proposal was submitted in 2010.
He indicated that the Health Committee in Parliament also approved the contract and forwarded it to the plenary of Parliament.
“This contract, exhibit V, was drafted by the government, and the valuation for the cost of the ambulances was done by the government.
“After the Ministry had satisfied itself that they were getting value for money, they proceeded to the Cabinet. The Cabinet did its due diligence and was also satisfied.
“After the Cabinet, the specifications proceeded to Parliament. The Health Committee of Parliament sat on this ambulance project, thoroughly examined the technical specifications, and compared them to the cost that the Cabinet had approved,” the third accused said.
“At the plenary, both NPP, his own government, and the NDC voted for it according to their own consciences after thoroughly perusing the technical specifications.”
The cost and specifications had gone through all the processes of statutory approval, even reaching the PPA, which has the responsibility to compare the cost against the specifications and grant approva, he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
