Answering questions under cross-examination by the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, embattled businessman, Richard Jakpa admitted that the international business agreement signed with a Dubai based company, Big Sea General Trading LLC, did not receive parliamentary approval as required by article 181(5) of the Constitution.

The businessman however explained that it was up to the Ministers for Finance and Health of the day to have submitted the agreement to Parliament for approval.

Mr Jakpa also admitted that Big Sea was not mentioned in the business proposal he submitted to the Ministry of Health for the supply of the ambulances. Big Sea was also not mentioned in the joint Memorandum submitted by the Ministers for Health and Parliament to Cabinet. The company was again not mentioned in the Cabinet approval for the transaction.

Mr Jakpa tried to explain to the court that Parliament's Committee of Health had examined the specifications required for an ambulance whilst the Finance Committee examined the contract. However, the Attorney-General asked him to look at the Parliamentary approval and tell the court whether Big Sea was even mentioned.

Jakpa answered that he could not see Big Sea in it.

On the registration of Big Sea as a company licensed to convert vehicles into ambulances, the Attorney-General asked Jakpa to look at documents tendered by Jakpa himself and indicate when Big Sea was registered.

The Attorney-General indicated that per Jakpa’s own documents, Big Sea was registered as licensed to convert vehicles into ambulances originally on 9th April, 2015.

Jakpa replied that the registration is annual and renewed each year.
This is instructive as the Ambulance Contract was signed in 2012 and the importation of the ambulances itself was in 2014.

GA