Proceedings in the criminal case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and five others have been adjourned by the High Court following recent developments affecting the prosecutorial mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The adjournment was granted after Senior Principal State Attorney at the OSP, Adelaide Kobiri-Woode, informed the court that the Office had filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution in response to a ruling that stripped it of its prosecutorial powers.
Addressing the court, Kobiri-Woode explained that subsequent proceedings—particularly at General Jurisdiction 10 of the High Court and at the Supreme Court—had direct implications on the OSP’s authority to prosecute ongoing cases.
“My Lord, respectfully, between the last adjourned date and today, some court proceedings have taken place, particularly at General Jurisdiction 10, concerning the prosecutorial powers of the OSP,” she stated.
She added that the OSP had taken steps to challenge the ruling by Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, which declared the Office’s prosecutions invalid and removed its authority to prosecute cases.
The prosecution therefore prayed the court to adjourn proceedings pending the determination of its application for stay of execution.
The case is among several high-profile matters tied to the anti-corruption mandate of the OSP and has drawn considerable public attention due to the involvement of Mr Ofori-Atta, who served under the New Patriotic Party administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Five of the accused persons were present in court with their lawyers. They included Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
Lawyers for some of the accused persons indicated they had no objection to the prosecution’s request for adjournment.
Counsel for one of the accused, Ernest Hardi Silas, told the court they would oblige with the OSP’s prayer.
Another defence team, led by Prof. Kwame Gyan, also associated themselves with the request, urging the court to set a reasonable adjournment date.
Presiding judge, Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, in his ruling, noted the significance of the decision by General Jurisdiction 10 of the High Court and the steps taken by the OSP to challenge it.
“In light of the decision by General Jurisdiction 10 and the subsequent decision of the OSP to file notice of appeal and stay of proceedings, the case is hereby adjourned,” he ruled.
The matter has been adjourned to May 26, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., pending the determination of the OSP’s application for stay of execution.
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