The Committee for Public Accountability has petitioned the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to reassign the case involving former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and six others to a different court.
The case, which is currently before the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court 3, has generated controversy, with social media commentaries focusing on the alleged relationship between the presiding judge, Justice Bertha Aninagyei, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng and persons close to him.
Having taken notice of the allegations widely circulating on social media, the Committee for Public Accountability is urging the Chief Justice to remove the case from the aforementioned court and assign it to a different one.
According to the group, some of the concerns and allegations raised on social media relate to matters of “conflict of interest, judicial neutrality and preservation of public interest in the administration of justice”.
The group, in a statement signed by Collins Owusu Amankwa, a former Member of Parliament for Manhyia North who also serves as its Executive Secretary, therefore wants the Chief Justice to reassign the case, arguing that doing so will restore confidence in the judiciary and affirm the long-held principle that “justice is not only done but is manifestly and unquestionably done”.
“CPA respectfully calls on His Lordship the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe Bonnie to consider, in the interest of fairness and public confidence, the reassignment of this case to a different court.
“This request is made not as an indictment of any judge or official, but as a proactive measure to ensure that justice is not only done but is manifestly and unquestionably seen to be done.
“CPA reaffirms its unwavering respect for the Judiciary and its processes and trusts that the appropriate administrative steps will be considered to uphold the integrity of Ghana’s justice system,” parts of the statement read.
Former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta and six others are standing trial for corruption and corruption-related offences. In all, they face 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.
The other accused are Ernest Darko Akore, aged 67, Chef de Cabinet to the Minister of Finance, Emmanuel Kofi Nti (66), former Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah (64), former Commissioner-General of GRA.
The rest are Isaac Crentsil (63), former Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, Kwadwo Damoah (65), former Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, Evans Adusei (62), beneficial owner, CEO, and controlling mind of the accused company, and the beneficiary company itself, Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), formerly Strategic Mobilisation Enhancement Ltd.
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