The Minority caucus in Parliament has served notice it would boycott proceedings of the House anytime its leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who is standing trial in the ambulance case, is due for court.
The caucus explained that the decision follows the refusal of the trial judge, Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, to grant a request from lawyers of Dr Forson for the leave of the court to enable him attend to “important parliamentary business yesterday”.
“The NDC Minority will only be available for the business of Parliament after proceedings of the court have ended on the days scheduled for the hearing of the ongoing ambulance case trial,” Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza told the media in Parliament, Accra, yesterday.
According to the Minority, Justice Asare-Botwe last week rejected a similar request from Parliament to enable Dr Ato Forson, MP, Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam, take part in a meeting of the Parliamentary Service Board which was due to take critical decisions ahead of the resumption of the House, amongst others.
As a result, Mr Agbodza, MP, Adaklu said the NDC caucus was left with no representation at these “important” meetings.
The minority leader, Mr Agbodza said, was to participate in a leadership engagement with the parliamentary press corps but could not do so because the court didn’t grant him the leave.
The refusal of the leave of court, the Minority argued was hampering the effectiveness of Dr Ato Forson.
“The NDC Minority has taken notice of this worrying trend that shows an attempt by the trial judge, Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, to prevent the Minority leader from performing his constitutional duties as an elected Member of Parliament and leader of the Minority Caucus.
“In the light of the above, and the continuous persecution of the minority leader, the NDC Minority will continue to solidarise and stand by its leader anytime he is due to appear in court.
“The NDC Minority Caucus further reserves the right to apply all other tools available to us in our approach to business on the floor,” Kwame Agbodza hinted.
At the time of filling this report at 3pm, the House was yet to sit because the caucus had gone to support its leader.
Dr Ato Forson is facing trial with one other person over his involvement in the purchase of 50 ambulances in 2016.
He has been charged with causing financial loss to the state.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
