In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa, overturning a previous ruling that had compelled them to open their defense.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, consisting of Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, and Poku Acheampong, delivered a 2-1 majority decision, with Justice Poku Acheampong dissenting.
The Court of Appeal held that Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s ruling on March 30, 2023, which had directed the accused to open their defense, was in error. Justices Ackaah-Boafo and Mensah granted the request, acquitting and discharging Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, while Justice Acheampong dismissed their request.
According to Kofi Tutu News Reporter Evans Mensah, who was present in court, the decision means that Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa have been freed from the charges brought against them.
This verdict marks a significant turn in the case, which had garnered considerable attention due to the high-profile status of the accused. The acquittal and discharge of Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa bring an end to their legal ordeal, and they are now cleared of all charges.
The Court of Appeal’s decision is final and binding, and it is expected to have far-reaching implications for similar cases in the future.
