The Minority Leader in Parliament, Honorable Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has denied allegations that he has pleaded for a bargain deal to settle the ambulance case against him.
In a statement released by the Director of Legal Affairs for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe Esq. indicated that the publication by the Daily Guide Newspaper on October 5 2023 is completely false.
According to the National Democratic Congress Director of Legal Affairs the publication of such news was mainly driven by malicious intent rather than committing to truthful reporting.
“The attention of the Minority Leader, Hon Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has been drawn to a malicious publication on the front page of the Thursday, 5th October, 2023 edition of the Daily Guide Newspaper. We wish to state that the said publication is without any factual basis and merely an attempt to court public disaffection for the person of Hon. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
As the minority leader of Ghana’s Parliament, The Hon. Ato Forson values the role that the media plays in informing the public and fostering a sense of community. However, it is disheartening to witness the dissemination of information that appears to be driven by malicious intent rather than a commitment to truthful reporting”.
Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe Esq.
Mr Edudzi Tamakloe further indicated that the Hon. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has not applied to the Honorable Court or the Attorney General’s Department for a plea to bargain or ask for any out of court settlement of the pending charges leveled against him.
He stressed that the record of the court shows that the Honorable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has opened his defence in the trial and has since called some of his witnesses.
Edudzi Tamakloe Argues Ato Forson’s Innocence
Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe also stated that the Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has throughout maintained his innocence having pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He further stated that even though the lawyers for the 3rd Accused person have indicated their readiness together with their principal to settle the case, the Honorable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has clearly indicated that he has no objection to the desire of the 3rd Accused to settle the matter without more.
According to Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe, Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson believes the publications by the Daily Guide Newspaper is a mischievous attempt basically done to divert attention from the #OccupyBoGProtest demonstration.
“The Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson cannot be distracted by this calumny, as he remains focused for God and Country”.
Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe Esq.
Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe therefore called on the Daily Guide Newspaper to retract the content in its October 5 2023 publication and issue public statement indicating the lack of substance in the allegations made against the Minority Leader, Honorable Cassiel Ato Forson.
“In the interest of promoting a healthy and constructive public discourse, the minority leader kindly requests that the Daily Guide Newspaper retracts the content in question and issue a public statement acknowledging the lack of substance in the allegations made against him. By doing so, you will demonstrate your commitment to journalistic integrity”.
Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe Esq.
On October 5 2023, the Daily Guide Newspaper published a news article indicating that the Minority Leader in Parliament and former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reached out to the Attorney General hoping to have the criminal action against him settled through a plea bargain.
According to the Daily Guide Newspaper Dr. Forson, through his lawyers wrote to the Attorney General seeking to settle the trial initiated against him for willfully causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.
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