Richard Jakpa, the businessman standing trial with the Minority Chief over an ambulance deal on Tuesday [July 2, 2024] defined why the ambulances weren’t match for function.
“They (the ambulances) weren’t match for function as a result of a letter had been written instructing you [government] to not use them,” Richard Jakpa, the businessman instructed the Excessive Court docket.
Winding up on his defence below the cross-examination of the Lawyer-Basic, the businessman instructed the trial court docket that the primary 10 ambulances that arrived on the port had been solely meant to be parked and never to be used.
He added that the letter requested the Ministry of Well being to take pressing steps to clear and switch the ambulances to a secure parking house.
Following the directive, he stated his principal, Huge Sea Buying and selling LLC, was supposed to usher in professionals to coach authorities’s paramedics on the usage of the ambulance and its tools.
He additional disagreed with the prosecution’s declare {that a} post-delivery inspection rendered the ambulances as not match for function.
Richard Jakpa declined to state whether or not the contract protecting the deal in favour of Huge Sea Buying and selling LLC obtained each parliamentary and cupboard approval.
The Lawyer-Basic, Godfred Yeboah Dame who cross-examined the businessman requested whether or not the contract between Huge Sea and authorities obtained both cupboard or parliamentary approval.
The accused stated, “I’m not within the place [to answer] as a result of I used to be not on the Ministry of Well being neither was I chargeable for sending all these for approval. I can’t affirm that for the A-G as a result of I don’t work at parliament and don’t understand how they impart their approval.”
The A-G additional confirmed cupboard’s approval letter to the accused to find out whether or not it accepted the contract for the ambulances in favour of Huge Sea.
However Jakpa in his response stated, “I’m not an MP and I don’t understand how they impart”.