I’m fighting for my liberty – Jakpa laments as NDC foot soldiers beg for cash  in court

Businessman, Richard Jakpa who was being accosted by some National Democratic Congress(NDC) foot soldiers after court begging for money lamented their conduct.

In a video that has gone viral, the embattled businessman wondered why they will be asking for money at a critical time when he is busily fighting for his liberty.

According to the video sighted by MyNewsGh.com, the former military man in the company of another on the passenger seat of his vehicle kept lamenting as the foot soldiers piled pressure for him to part with something.

“I am fighting for my liberty and you people you want to make money from me. What I am saying you don’t understand, I am fighting for my liberty and it is expensive and you want to make money from me again aahh ba”, he said.

Realizing they had failed in their pursuit, one of them said in Twi “we will support you in prayers”

Background

Dr Cassiel Forson and Jakpa have been accused of causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.

They have pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.

Per the A-G’s facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.

Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government.

Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank.

According to the facts, on November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances.

They added that on August  7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for letters of credit covering €3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea.

The letters of credit were accordingly released to Big Sea.

The facts said 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of €2.37 million but all were found not to have met ambulance specifications and therefore “not fit for purpose”.

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