The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has testified in the financial and economic court following a subpoena by the lawyers of Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial.

Giving his testimony on Richard Jakpa’s discharge by the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday, July 29, 2024, Lt General Oppong-Peprah confirmed that the businessman was released from the service on November 1, 2007, for inefficiency.

However, he noted that misconduct was not mentioned in the military’s release letter handed to Richard Jakpa, contrary to earlier claims that the third accused was discharged for that reason.

During a cross-examination by Richard Jakpa’s lawyer, the CDS explained that reasons for releasing an officer who fails to pay debts are classified as misconduct and failure to settle private debts, a ground that is not applicable to Jakpa.

Lawyers for Richard Jakpa believe these documents are intended to undermine their client’s credibility.

Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are standing trial for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Health ministry, among other charges.

The ambulances, according to court documents, are ordinary buses that lack the standard required equipment to function as proper ambulances.

MAG/ ADG