Local News

Supreme Court grants AG extension of time in Anti-gay Bill case

The Supreme Court has granted the Attorney General an extension of time to submit his statement of case regarding the lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-LGBTQ bill. The AG requested the additional time to gather necessary documents, including a Financial Impact Analysis from the Speaker of Parliament, which had not yet been provided despite a previous court order. The lawsuits are challenging the constitutionality of the Human and Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024, which was passed by Parliament last February. The extension was granted by the sole judge after considering an application for more time in the case involving Richard Dela Sky and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin. The state, represented by Dr. Sylvia Adusu, requested the extension to allow for the filing of their statement of case. She clarified that the delay was not due to any disrespect towards the court. Dr. Adusu explained that AG’s office was awaiting additional documents, including a Financial Impact Analysis from the Speaker of Parliament. She noted that despite a prior court order for the documents to be submitted, compliance had not been met, and the lack of the documents was significantly affecting the case. This, she noted, had caused the delay in filing their statement of case. The lawyers for Richard Sky, Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, and Raphael Banaangman did not oppose the Attorney General’s application for an extension of time. Abaidoo informed the court that they were prepared to file their memoranda of issues but were hindered by the absence of the impact analysis documents from the Speaker of Parliament. Mr. Banaangman told the court “We do not oppose to the application except to say that we have issues with paragraph six and seven of the affidavits in support of the application for extension of time.” In another development, the Supreme Court granted an extension of time to the Attorney General in the case of Dr. Amanda Odoi versus the Speaker of Parliament and the AG. Richard Sky, a broadcast journalist, is seeking a court order to restrain the Speaker from presenting the Human and Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 to the President for assent. He is also seeking to restrain the President from assenting to the Bill, arguing that such action would directly violate the constitutional rights and liberties of Ghanaians. Sky is also requesting an injunction to prevent any enforcement of provisions in the bill that criminalise same-sex relationships and related advocacy efforts. GNA

Supreme Court grants AG extension of time in Anti-gay Bill case Read More »

Court Adjourns Case of Bishop Amoako and Wife to November 13

An Accra Circuit Court has adjourned to November 13, the case involving Bishop Elijah Salifu Amoako and his wife, who are facing charges for allowing their unlicensed minor son to drive. The decision came after Yaw Acquah, a State Attorney, requested a short adjournment to complete investigations and file all necessary disclosures. During the proceedings, the defence counsel for Bishop Amoako, the General Overseer of Alive Chapel International, expressed concerns about the circulation of images of their son. Akosua Adjei Twumwaa, one of the defence attorneys, said that photos of Elrad Amoako undergoing surgery and other related images had been widely disseminated in the media. The defence argued that it is against the law to display images of a minor without consent and requested the court to issue an order for the removal of those images. Additionally, they sought the court’s direction for the Ghana Police Service and Police Hospital to comply with this order. The trial Judge, Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, informed the defence counsel that the juvenile involved, Elrad Amoako, currently has no case before the court. As a result, the court found it challenging to issue an order directed at any institution or individual regarding the request for image removal, citing a lack of jurisdiction. The judge urged the defence counsel to file formal complaints with the police when they appear before a Juvenile Court. Bishop Elijah Salifu Amoako, his wife Mouha, and Linda Bonsu Bempah, a sales assistant, were arrested after an incident involving their 16-year-old son, Elrad, who allegedly caused an accident in East Legon on October 12, 2024, leading to the deaths of two girls. The charges stem from an incident in which their 16-year-old son, Elrad Amoako, drove a white Jaguar F-Space Sports without a valid license, resulting in a collision with an Acura utility vehicle that caught fire, tragically leading to the deaths of two individuals. All three accused have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail set at GHC 50,000. GNA  

Court Adjourns Case of Bishop Amoako and Wife to November 13 Read More »

Barber convicted for conspiracy and robbery

A 26-year-old barber, Richard Amoako, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court. The barber conspired with a 30-year-old mason, Paa Kwasi now deceased, to rob a gold buying office at Wassa Nkonya in the Wassa Amenfi East municipality. Amoako, who is popularly known as Jordan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and robbery. Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, sentenced Amoako to 20 years of imprisonment in hard labour on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently. Police Chief Superintendent Alex Odonkor, Prosecuting, said Richard Quansah, the complainant owns “Same God” a gold buying office at Wassa Nkonya, but resides at Wassa Adiembra. He said the victim Osman Adams is 22-year-old and an employee of the complainant lived at Wassa Nkonya, while Amoako and Paa Kwasi are residents of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. According to the prosecution, on October 14, 2024, Amoako and his counterpart travelled to Wassa Mampong and its environs on a robbery expedition. He said on October 16, 2024, at about 12:30 hours, Amoako and Paa Kwasi boarded a motorbike to Wassa Nkonya where they bought a cutlass and hid same in their attire to execute the plan they hatched earlier. He said the two went closer to the complainant’s gold-buying office and laid ambush until they detected that Adams was alone in the office. The prosecutor said Amoako and the deceased moved to the office having in their possession gold, wrapped in a black polythene bag under the pretence of offering same for sale. Amoako engaged the victim with the weighing of the small gold and in the process, Paa Kwasi pulled the cutlass and slashed his neck, where he sustained a deep cut and bled profusely. The victim started screaming for help, but Amoako and Paa Kwasi felt they could be nabbed, took to their heels, and some residents rushed Adams to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital for treatment. Police Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the town folks got hold of Amoako and his accomplice subjected them to severe beatings until the Wassa Nkonya police had a tip-off, went to their rescue, and transported them to the Wassa Akropong Government hospital for medical attention. He said Paa Kwasi was pronounced dead while Amoako was treated, discharged, and sent to the police station for questioning. Prosecution said during investigations, Amoako confirmed that he conspired with the deceased to commit the crime, and the cutlass they used in the operation was retrieved and retained at the police station for evidential purposes. The court, during its ruling also ordered Amoako’s family to pay the cost of GH¢10,000 to the victim’s boss, Richard Quansah.  

Barber convicted for conspiracy and robbery Read More »

Martin Amidu: The Speaker must obey and enforce decisions and orders of Supreme Court now

The Speaker of Parliament is enjoined under the 1992 Constitution to obey and enforce the decisions and orders of the Supreme Court following the Court’s unanimous dismissal of his application on 30 October 2024 to set aside the processes and proceedings in the suit brought by Alexander Afenyo Markin (the Majority Leader) against him and the Attorney-General, and further to vacate the orders of the Court dated 18th October 2024 staying the execution of the ruling of the Speaker of Parliament dated 17th October 2024 declaring vacant the seats of four named Members of Parliament pending the final determination of the suit, as unmeritorious.  The Supreme Court has by its decision dismissing the Speaker’s application thrown out all the jurisdictional objections raised by the Speaker to the competence of the Supreme Court to hear the Writ and Statement of Case filed by the plaintiff against the defendants. The full reasons for the Court’s decision are to be filed in the registry of the Court by Friday, 8 November 2024. We can then temperately criticize or applaud the decision without scandalizing the Court. The Supreme Court has in its latest ruling again given the Speaker and the Attorney-General the opportunity to submit their Statements of Case and to argue their case against the Majority Leader’s Writ and Statement of Case after filing their joint Memorandum of Issues. In the interim, the work of Parliament must go on smoothly within the status quo ante the Speaker’s ruling of 17 October 2024. The Supreme Court is the final repository of the judicial power in the determination of controversies affecting the citizen and the state, and vice-versa and ensuring compliance with the orders and directives of the Supreme Court is a mandatory requirement of the Constitution, and the rule of law as distinct from the rule of the jungle. The Kabuki dance of writing a letter numbered PS/DC/24/234 dated 18 October 2024 to the Registrar of the Supreme Court returning Court processes to the Registrar and applying to the same Court to set aside its ruling and orders is over. Every mature and reasonable person knows that when a writ and statement of case and/or their service are defective the proper thing to do is to apply to set them aside and not to write letters returning them. I found it interesting that in Ghana, the Speaker of Parliament with a well-known political affiliation who presided over the approval of members of the Supreme Court and recommended them for appointment will turn around to question the competence or integrity of any of the justices merely on the grounds of former political party affiliation without further proof of real likelihood of bias after the assumption of office of the justice. It is one thing criticizing the nomination of a person to the Supreme Court so that Parliament may consider the criticism in the approval process and another thing after Parliament has in a bi-partisan manner approved and recommended the person for appointment and the appointment has been consummated to allege bias in a pending case without any shred of evidence. Once the appointment has been consummated through the constitutionally approved process the sanctity of the institution of the judiciary demands that every citizen gives the appointees the presumption of impartiality until there is concrete proof to the contrary. The Speaker has no authority to hold the nation to ransom by obstructing the functioning of the constitutional system or any of the arms of government during the pendency of a constitutional matter before the Supreme Court.   The Speaker and Parliament have to learn to accept the decisions and orders of the Supreme Court they co-created with the Executive branch for Ghanaians in this epoch of the nation’s history. The wheels of government must move smoothly while the judiciary exercises the judicial power apportioned to it under the Constitution to resolve the pending constitutional impasse. The Speaker should file his Statement of Case as directed by the Court and let the Court resolve the controversy between the plaintiff and the defendants. Between now and 7 December 2024 everything must be done by the legislature and the executive branch particularly to lower political tensions and to ensure free, fair and transparent elections instead of resorting to political party gamesmanship and point scoring which can be disastrous for the general well-being of the citizen and the survival of the 1992 Constitution from which all the arms of government derive their powers. The Speaker needs to show cognitive maturity now! Parliaments and Governments may come and go but the Republic of Ghana shall always endure. Martin A. B. K. Amidu 30 October 2024  

Martin Amidu: The Speaker must obey and enforce decisions and orders of Supreme Court now Read More »

2 Men Charged with Possession of Human Remains

Two men appeared in the Dansoman Circuit Court on Thursday, October 31, 2024, on charges relating to the unlawful possession of human body parts, a violation of Section 698(b) of Ghana’s Criminal Offence Act, 1960 (Act 29), amended in 2012. Alex Frimpong, 24, and Abdul Razak Mohammed, 49, were each charged with the offence after police apprehended them with a human skull in their possession. Presiding over the case, Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Baasit entered a plea of not guilty for Alex Frimpong, the first accused, despite his initial guilty plea. The second accused, Abdul Razak Mohammed, pleaded not guilty. Details of the Case According to police records, Frimpong, a mason residing in Pokuase, had reportedly sought spiritual help to improve his financial situation. He was introduced to a man named Nana Atta, who is currently at large, through social media. Nana Atta allegedly presented himself as a fetish priest who could provide assistance but required a human skull for the rituals. The prosecution stated that on October 25, 2024, Frimpong met Abdul Razak Mohammed, a grave digger at Awudome Cemetery, to obtain the skull. After payment of GH¢600.00, allegedly transferred by Nana Atta to Mohammed, the skull was handed over to Frimpong. Later that day, Frimpong was stopped by a police patrol team near Odorgono Secondary School. Upon searching his belongings, officers discovered the human skull in a black backpack. Following his arrest, Frimpong implicated Mohammed as the source, leading to his apprehension. Court Proceedings and Bail Request Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, representing the prosecution, argued against bail, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to visit the crime scene at Awudome Cemetery. He added that the police are still attempting to locate Nana Atta and that granting bail could compromise the investigation. The prosecution also argued that both accused have no permanent residence, raising concerns about their potential failure to appear in court. Invoking Section 96(5)(a) and (b) of Act 30, the court refused bail for both men, ordering that they remain in police custody until the next hearing on November 15, 2024. The court instructed the prosecution to expedite their investigation and file the necessary disclosures for case management. Additional Details and Future Steps The police are actively pursuing Nana Atta, who remains at large. Meanwhile, the human skull, a key piece of evidence, has been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary. Chronicle

2 Men Charged with Possession of Human Remains Read More »

Use AG’s services’ – PPA tells Parliament as it rejects request to use Sory@Law

The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has rejected the Parliamentary Service of Ghana’s request to procure legal services from the external firm Messrs Sory@Law. In correspondence reviewed by myjoyonline.com, the PPA emphasised that as a state institution, Parliament should utilise the Attorney General’s Department for all legal matters. This decision reflects the PPA’s stance on maintaining institutional integrity and adherence to established protocols for legal representation. In a letter dated December 12, 2022, and signed by PPA Chief Executive Officer Frank Mante, the PPA responded to Parliament’s request submitted on November 15, 2022. The PPA board denied the approval of the single-source procurement method sought for engaging Sory@Law, reinforcing the notion that state institutions must prioritize utilising resources within the Attorney General’s Department for litigation. “At the 31st Board Meeting of the 5th Board held on Thursday 8 December 2022, the Board could not approve your request to use the Single Source Procurement Method to engage Messrs Sory @ Law as an external solicitor to support Parliament and the Parliamentary Service at a Retainer Fee of GHS5,000.00 and specific fee for the conduct of constitutional cases in the Supreme Court at a fee not exceeding GHC300,000.00,” the PPA’s letter to the Clerk to Parliament said. “The Board noted that, since the Attorney General is the Principal Legal Advisor, the Board is of the considered opinion that, Parliamentary Service should continue to use the Services of the AG in all legal matters,” the PPA letter to the Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng-Nsiah, further said. During the 2023/2024 legal year, Sory@Law represented Parliament in various cases concerning the Parliament of Ghana. In the ongoing 2024/2025 legal year, Sory@Law has filed and is representing Parliament in several new cases. The most recent case involves Alexander Afenyo Markin against the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney General’s Department, focusing on the interpretation of Article 97 (1) (g) and (h) related to the seats held by four current members of Parliament.   myjoyonline

Use AG’s services’ – PPA tells Parliament as it rejects request to use Sory@Law Read More »

CJ shuts down 7 courts over renewed Bawku conflict

The Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has ordered the closure of seven courts in the Upper East Region in the wake of escalating violence in the chieftaincy-related conflict in the area. The measure, the Chief Justice said, was to ensure the safety of judges, staff and court users. The affected courts are the High, Circuit and District courts in Bolgatanga as well as District courts in Zuarungu, Zebilla, Garu and Bongo respectively. Already the Circuit and District courts in Bawku had been closed since the conflict resumed in November 2021, compelling residents in need of court services to resort to those in nearby districts. The closure of the courts follows heightened insecurity in the region as a result of a deadly gunfire attack by unidentified gunmen who opened fire on travellers along the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway last Sunday, October 27, 2024. In the sad incident, some people were killed while two vehicles were burnt, resulting in heightened fear in that area and Bawku as well. The latest clashes were as a result of the return of a rival chief to Bawku. The new developments have brought the once vibrant Bawku town to a standstill as residents cannot carry out their normal activities freely. To tackle the situation, last Monday, the government was compelled to impose a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew on Bawku and its surrounding communities. Closure A memorandum dated October 29, 2024, and signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Pamela C.A. Koranteng announcing the closure of the courts, said the attention of the Chief Justice had been drawn to concerns expressed by lawyers and other stakeholders about the situation in Bawku and its environs. It said: “In order to ensure the safety of judges, staff, lawyers and court users, the Chief Justice has ordered the closure of the affected courts with immediate effect until further notice”. The statement urged registrars to keep all assets of the courts safe and further entreated the staff to stay safe. Visit During a visit by the Daily Graphic to three of the affected courts in Bolgatanga yesterday, all of them had been locked as the staff had adhered to their closure and subsequently stayed away from work. The Daily Graphic team observed that only security officers were manning the premises, but they declined an interview. The vibrant activities usually witnessed around the court premises daily were absent at the time of the visit due to the closure as the entire environment had turned into a ‘ghost’ area. Also, information gathered indicated that some people and clients who were unaware of the announcement thronged the courts to seek various services yesterday in the morning, only to be greeted with their closure. The disappointed court users who had travelled from far and near to seek legal and other services had no option but to return to their respective destinations. graphic

CJ shuts down 7 courts over renewed Bawku conflict Read More »

Trader in court over fraudulent breach of trust

A currency trader who allegedly dishonestly appropriated various sums of money, belonging to three traders, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Mahamud Adams Sidik, is alleged to have collected $14,000 and 800,000 Naira. He said to have asked traders to pay the above monies into a friend’s account to avert attacked by armed robbers in Nigeria where they were going to purchase items and offer them for sale in Ghana. Sidik after collecting the money went into hiding. Charged with three counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Sidik has pleaded not guilty. The Court has admitted Sidik to bail in the sum of GHC300,000 with two sureties to be justified. The matter has been adjourned to November 25, 2024. Prosecution led by Inspector Mina Kwafo told the Court that the complainant Wango Abdul Karim, Twaficatu Alhassan and Rakia Urman are businesswomen and a man residing at Accra New Town and Sapeiman, all in Accra, respectively. Prosecutors said Sidik also resided in Accra New Town. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Sidik collected cash of $1,000 $13,000 and 800,000 Naira, respectively, from the three complainants. According to prosecution, Sidik told the complainants that he was sending the money through his friend’s bank account in Abidjan and Nigeria to avoid any arm robbery attack and that they would withdraw the money when they get to their destinations. Prosecution said the complainants were travelling to Abidjan and Nigeria to buy goods and sell in Ghana. The Court heard that based on the false representation, Sidik succeeded in obtaining the money from the complainants but failed to honour his promise and all efforts made to get the money back had proved futile. The prosecution said Sidik was nabbed at Ashiaman and in his caution statement he admitted the offence in the presence of an independent witness. GNA  

Trader in court over fraudulent breach of trust Read More »

Stealing: Driver’s mate jailed four years

A 22-year-old driver’s mate who broke into the storeroom of a school and stole various items, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Abuakwa Circuit Court. Emmanuel Oteng, alias “Sika Gari,” was said to have broken into the storeroom of the Bantama M/A JHS and made away with items such as a tabletop fridge, plastic barrel, and two metal buckets, belonging to the school. He pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and was convicted on his own plea. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Jonas Newlove Agyei told the court presided by Mrs Philomina Ansaah Asiedu that, the complainant in the case was the Headmaster of Bantama M/A JHS, while Oteng was also a resident of the community. He said, on October 17, this year, at about seven in the morning, the complainant went to school and realised that window of the staff common room had been damaged. He entered the room and after inspection detected that the school’s Philips table-top fridge valued at GHc 3,000.00, one barrel valued at GHc 600.00 and two metal bucket stands, valued at GHc 1,200.00, all totalling GHc 4,800.00, kept inside the common room, had been stolen. Prosecution said the complainant informed the Assembly Member of the area and upon enquiries, Oteng was arrested from his hideout and handed over to the Suntreso Police. Prosecution explained that Oteng admitted in his caution statement that he sold the stolen items to one Kofi Kombate at Suntreso, but failed to locate the alleged buyer. After investigation, he was charged and brought before the court. GNA  

Stealing: Driver’s mate jailed four years Read More »

Mason who attempted to burn his family and property remanded into prison custody

A 48-year-old Mason who attempted to burn his family and property at Tanoso, in the Kwadaso Municipality, has been remanded into prison custody by the Asante Akropong Circuit Court. Robert Benjamin Okyere, pleaded not guilty to causing harm and damage and would reappear before the court presided by Nana Adwoa Serwaa Dua-Adonteng, on November 07. Police Chief Inspector Ruth Gborson prosecuting told the court that, the complainant, Agnes Obour, a tailor at Tanoso, was the girlfriend of Okyere. She said, somewhere in 2023, the complainant requested for money from Okyere to rent a room for their two grown up children since they could no longer sleep in the same single room with them. Okyere refused and as a result, he was denied sex by the girlfriend. He, therefore, moved out from the house to stay with another woman at Asuoyeboa, a nearby community. The Prosecution said, on September 28, this year, the complainant went to Okyere to demand money for the upkeep of the children, but he became angry and assaulted the complainant after calling her a senseless, stupid, dirty, and foolish woman. Chief Inspector Gborson said a report was made to the Abuakwa police but when the accused was invited, he refused to honour the invitation and rather, went into hiding. Prosecution told the court that, on October 05, this year, at about 2200 hours, the complainant was in the room praying and heard the scent of petrol and smoke. She checked through the back window and saw the accused setting the room ablaze. Chief Inspector Gborson said complainant called the children and they quickly escaped, but in the process, they sustained some injuries. They were rushed to the Abuakwa government hospital. A report was made to the police and the accused was arrested. Prosecution said, the accused in his caution statement denied the charges but after investigations, he was charged and brought before the court. GNA  

Mason who attempted to burn his family and property remanded into prison custody Read More »

error: Copying is Not permitted.