Juaben MCE Nominee

The trial involving allegations of corruption during a public election against President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Chief Executive of the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region remains pending before the Criminal Division of the High Court, Kumasi.

On 9 April 2024, the High Court partially dismissed an application by the accused, Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka, on a submission of no case to answer. The court determined that the prosecution had established a prima facie case on three of the charges and accordingly directed the accused to open his defence on those counts.

Following this, Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal, challenging the High Court's decision. He concurrently filed an application for a stay of proceedings, seeking to suspend the trial indefinitely pending the outcome of the appeal. The High Court dismissed the application for a stay of proceedings, directing that the trial continues as scheduled. Subsequently, the accused presented his testimony and underwent cross-examination by prosecutors from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Judgment was initially set for 28 November 2024.

However, when the case was called for judgment on the scheduled date, a new judge, Justice Abdul Razak Musah, presided, informing the court of the transfer of the trial judge, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori. Justice Musah noted that the accused had filed a notice of change of solicitors and granted the new legal team additional time to review the case. Furthermore, the court observed that the accused had not filed his address and granted him further time to do so. The matter was subsequently adjourned to 20 January 2025.

On 3 December 2024, the Communications Department of the Judicial Service issued a publication confirming the transfer of Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori from Kumasi to Accra as part of the 2024 legal year transfer process involving over 20 judges. The publication further stated that Justice Ofori had submitted a list of all outstanding judgments and rulings and had been authorised to deliver these. It was also disclosed that Justice Ofori had submitted a Case Completion Plan on 29 November 2024 to secure a warrant for completing cases nearing conclusion.

Accordingly, the OSP anticipates that Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori will deliver the judgment in this case on 20 January 2025