Dr. Sylvester Anemana
A High Court in Accra yesterday released the passport of former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, to enable him undergo medical procedure in India.
The accused is standing trial alongside Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for causing financial loss to the state in the purchase of ‘defective’ ambulances for the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Ato Forson, Dr. Anemana as well as private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial 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.
The main issue raised during the prosecution’s case was whether the defective vehicles were purchased in accordance with the purchase agreement approved by Parliament.
The ambulances, according to court documents, are ordinary buses which are not fit for purpose as they do not have the needed equipment that an ambulance requires.
Dr. Anemana is currently under cross-examination by Thomas Aubynn, counsel for Richard Jakpa, but the trial had to be adjourned multiple times due to the accused person’s ill health.
Lawyers for the retired public servant have filed an application before the Financial and Economic Crimes Division urging the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, to release the passport to enable Dr. Anemana travel abroad to seek treatment of medical conditions which have been described as very serious.
He was initially undergoing medical treatment in Ghana, but his lawyer, via an affidavit, is asking the court to release the passport to enable him travel abroad for further treatment.
The passport is in the custody of the court’s registry as part of the conditions of the bail granted the accused person at the beginning of the case.
The court had initially adjourned the case to yesterday for counsel for Mr. Jakpa as well as the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to conclude their respective cross-examinations of Dr. Anemana, which cumulatively would have lasted for an hour and half.
But Dr. Anemana was having trouble answering the questions, as he was having continuous hiccups, prompting the judge to summon the parties into her chambers.
They emerged later and Justice Asare-Botwe, deciding on the application, indicated that the court was concerned that Dr. Anemana will not be in a position to continue with his testimony.
She said the court also took note that all the three persons who stood surety for Dr. Anemana were in court, and have consented to the release of the passport, adding that they understand their liability to produce the accused when the medical procedure is over.
She, therefore, ordered the Registrar of the court to release Dr. Anemana’s passport to him to enable him travel to India for the medical procedure.
The court is to obtain a warrant from the Chief Justice to enable it take evidence of any witness that may wish to testify via video link.
The case was adjourned to January 30, 2024, for continuation.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak