By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Mr Bright Simons, has hinted that his independent analysis has revealed that the current Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson is the worst sufferer of prosecutorial abuse in the history of Ghana.
According to him, his analysis of the case brought against the then former deputy finance minister shows it was wrong on the path of the Akufo-Addo led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration prosecute Dr. Ato Forson in the first place.
Mr. Simons condemned the prosecution of Dr. Ato Forson by Nana Addo-Bawumia led government describing it as the worst abuse of prosecutorial discretion in Ghana’s history.
Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister under the previous Mahama administration, was put on trial at the Accra High Court over allegations of causing a financial loss of €2 million in an ambulance procurement deal.
The case traveled for more than seven years without determination.
However, on July 30, 2024, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged him, ruling that there was no case against him.
Subsequently, the current Attorney General formally dropped any further proceedings at the Supreme Court in a notice filed on January 24, 2025.
The Attorney General and Justice Minister, Dr. Dominic Ayine about a fortnight ago announced the discontinuation of several high-profile cases involving officials and associates of the previous Mahama administration, including the former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, among others which have raised public concerns.
Sharing his thoughts on the issue during an interview with an Accra-based Joy FM, Mr Simons backed the current Attorney General’s decision to discontinue the case, stating that his independent analysis revealed major flaws in the prosecution’s approach.
“I also agree with the discontinuation of the Ato Forson case because I personally investigated the matter as an independent analyst, and it is the worst abuse of prosecutorial discretion we have ever seen in this country,” Mr. Simons reiterated.
The Vice President of IMANI Africa explained that the case was built around a letter of credit, a financial instrument designed to manage risk in transactions.
He argued that the existence of such an arrangement should not have been grounds for criminal charges.
