Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has reiterated his commitment to continue the fight against government’s proposed E-Levy bill.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday to set the record straight on charges levelled against him and others in the procurement of some 200 ambulances, he stated that this is merely a tactic by the ruling government to cow him away from pursuing the rejection of the E-Levy bill.

The Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP stressed that he will remain unrelenting in his stance against the E-Levy bill, which the Minority Caucus has described as insensitive to the plight of suffering Ghanaians.

“Neither myself working as the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Ghana’s Parliament nor the Minority group in Parliament will relent on our fight to ensure that the feet of this profligate government is held to fire.

“We would stand firm and protect the people of Ghana from misrule and poor economic policy choices. Not even a million prosecutions will stop us in our quest to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public funds,” Dr Ato Forson said.

Background

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and two others are facing charges for causing financial loss to the state over their involvement in the procurement of 200 ambulances during the Atta Mills and Mahama government.

The two are; Sylvester Anemana, a Chief Director at the Ministry of Health when the alleged crimes are said to have been committed, and a businessman, Richard Jakpa.

The case relates to the procurement of 200 ambulances by the Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama led government. Documents filed by the AG’s office trace the events culminating into the alleged crimes to an announcement made in the 2009 State of the National Address regarding plans to procure ambulances for the country.

The AG said following this address, the Ministry of Health (MOH) initiated action to acquire more ambulances. The 3rd accused person, Richard Jakpa, is said to have used his company, Jakpa at Business, to present a proposal and Term Loan to the Ministry of Health, which he claimed to have arranged from Stanbic Bank to finance the supply of the 200 ambulances to the government.

According to the AG, Cabinet gave an Executive Approval for the project.

However, it emerged later that the ambulances had defects that rendered them unsuitable for purpose.