The criminal trial involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others over alleged corruption-related offences has been adjourned to April 23, 2026, following delays in serving key accused persons and completing extradition processes.
At Thursday’s sitting, a Principal State Prosecutor, Adelaide Kobiri-Woode, told the court that efforts to serve Ofori-Atta, the first accused, and the second accused, Ernest Darko Akore, with criminal summons and charge sheets had not been completed.
She further disclosed that steps to extradite Ofori-Atta from the United States of America to Ghana to face trial were still ongoing.
The remaining accused persons — Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, and Evans Adusei — were all present in court, alongside representatives of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited.
The prosecution explained that the matter had earlier been adjourned for a Case Management Conference (CMC) to pave the way for trial to begin. However, proceedings could not commence due to the absence of the two accused persons.
According to the State, the U.S. Department of Justice had requested additional information through mutual legal assistance channels to facilitate the extradition of Ofori-Atta, and the required details had since been provided.
When the presiding judge, Francis Apanga Achibonga, asked whether the State intended to proceed against the remaining accused persons while dropping charges against the absent individuals, the prosecution declined, indicating that serving the accused persons with court processes remained its priority.
The court also heard that the State had filed three additional witness statements on March 25, which were yet to be served on the accused persons. The judge subsequently ordered that the statements be served.
Counsel for the defence, led by Kwame Gyan, urged the court to discharge the third to eighth accused persons or, in the alternative, grant a longer adjournment period. He argued that there was no certainty as to when the extradition and service processes would be completed.
Prof. Gyan noted that, aside from Ofori-Atta and Akore, the other accused persons had consistently honoured court appearances and complied with reporting requirements to the Office of the Special Prosecutor. He warned that indefinite monthly court appearances could impose undue hardship on them.
Supporting the application, another defence lawyer, Addo Atuah, emphasised the financial burden of repeated court attendance, particularly as the accused persons were retirees. He suggested that discharging them or extending adjournment periods would ease the strain.
The prosecution opposed the request for discharge, maintaining that although proceedings should be expedited, the number of court appearances so far did not justify releasing the accused persons.
In his ruling, Justice Achibonga held that it was within the prosecution’s prerogative to determine how to proceed with its case, while the court’s duty remained to ensure justice is served.
He consequently declined the application to discharge the accused persons and adjourned the case to April 23, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
