Court dismisses Prof Ameyaw Akumfi’s plea to halt proceedings

The Criminal Division 4 of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Comfort Tasiame, has dismissed an application by lawyers for Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former Board Chair of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), seeking to halt proceedings in the ongoing criminal case against him and co-accused Solomon Asamoah.

The defense team for Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi (2nd Accused), represented by Duke Aaron Sasu, had filed a motion requesting the Court to stay proceedings pending the hearing of a constitutional reference by the Supreme Court.

The motion, set for hearing on July 9, 2025 also sought to strike out the charges as premature and in breach of a legal condition precedent, as well as to refer constitutional questions relating to the Public Property Protection Decree, 1977 (SMCD 140) and Articles 19 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution to the Supreme Court.

However, when proceedings resumed yesterday, counsel for the 2nd Accused attempted to have the ongoing Case Management Conference (CMC) halted in light of the pending motion.

Justice Tasiame declined the request, stating that the application had not yet been served and, therefore, could not affect the conduct of the day’s business.

“You’ve been overruled. We’ll continue with the CMC,” she ruled firmly.

Day’s Business

Chief State Attorney Sefakor Baatse informed the court of changes to the prosecution’s witness list. She formally withdrew the witness statements and exhibits filed on June 3, 2025 by Staff Officer Francis Aboagye and replaced them with a revised version filed on June 10.

Additionally, the prosecution withdrew the witness statements of Seth Nana Kwame Osei, Benjamin Nartey Abrokwa, Reginald Okai and Chief Inspector Kesse Akrasi, indicating they would no longer rely on these witnesses during trial.

Counsel for the 1st Accused, Edem Nuhoho, raised no objections to the updated statement of Francis Aboagye but requested further particulars on the withdrawn statements, noting that documents filed under “Submission of Documents” included witness statements critical to the trial.

Justice Tasiame then struck out all withdrawn witness statements from the court’s record.

However, Madam Baatse announced that the prosecution intends to call eight witnesses including; Yaw Odame Darkwa, Kofi Boakye, Andrews Agyenim Boateng, Maame Efua andKyerewa Ababio.

The rest are Yvonne Adoley Sowah, Hon. TweneboahKodua, Cecilia Gambriah and Staff Officer Francis Aboagye.

She also addressed concerns raised by the defense regarding the organisation of the prosecution’s documents, assuring the Court that the integrity of the original filings had been maintained, and pledged to re-serve the documents within 48 hours.

Defense counsel for the 2nd Accused, Duke Aaron Sasu, acknowledged the prosecution’s efforts but insisted on an adjournment to allow proper review of the updated witness statements and associated documents. He stressed their fundamental importance to the defense’s preparation.

Justice Tasiame, while acknowledging the defense’s concern, denied the adjournment request, stating, “The prayer for adjournment isn’t in line with the purpose of the CMC.”

She ordered the prosecution to present the required documents to counsel for A2 within 48 hours.

 

The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., when the Court will hear arguments on the pending motion filed by counsel for the 2nd Accused.

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