…. Dr Sa-ad Iddrisu
In the midst of the ongoing ambulance trial, Dr Sa-ad Iddrisu, has voiced concerns over the Attorney General Godfred Dame refusal to accept a €2 million euros plea bargain offered by Richard Jakpa.
This refusal, according to Dr Iddrisu, further exacerbates the financial strain on the state.
The trial itself stems from events dating back to 2017, when Health Minister Kweku Agyemang Manu, initiated an investigation into 30 ambulances procured by the Mahama government. Despite the significant expenditure of approximately €2.4 million, these vehicles were deemed unsuitable for their intended purpose.
Agyemang Manu’s stark description of them as “sprinter buses fitted with kitchen panels” underscores the magnitude of the misstep.
Dr Iddrisu, commenting on the recent developments in the trial, emphasized the pressing economic challenges facing the nation. Against this backdrop, he argued that Godfred Dame’s refusal to entertain Jakpa’s plea bargain represents a missed opportunity to recoup losses and allocate resources more effectively.
Furthermore, Dr Iddrisu, suggested that the Attorney General could have imposed interest charges to mitigate the financial impact on the state.
Highlighting the legal precedent of plea bargaining within Ghana’s judicial framework, Dr Iddrisu urged the judiciary to consider the broader implications of rejecting such offers. He emphasized that the refusal to engage in plea bargaining not only affects individual cases but also has wider ramifications for the nation’s financial stability.
“Considering the country’s economic crisis and urgent need for funds to revive the economy, A.G. Godfred Dame should have accepted Richard Jakpa’s €2 million euros plea bargain for an alleged financial loss of less than €4 million euros. He could have even applied a risk premium of 5.5% to 20% to the premium to ensure Ghana gains a favorable payoff. The judge should consider his refusal to accept the plea bargain as also causing financial loss to the state because plea bargaining is recognized within Ghana’s legal framework,” Dr Iddrisu said.
