An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Philip Bright Mensah, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, has ordered state prosecutors to furnish the defence team in the case of the Republic versus Dr Kwabena Duffuor and eight (8) others with all documents they intend to rely on in the trial by 15 June 2020, in line with directions of the Chief Justice.

In line with the order of the Court today, 21 May 2020, Justice Philip Bright Mensah adjourned sitting to 18 June 2020 for the case to take its natural cause.

Legal Representation

The State was represented by Gloria Akuffo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice; Yvonne Atakora Obuabisa, Director of Public Prosecution; Stella Ohene Appiah, Winifred Sarpong, and Richard Gyembibi, all Principal State Attorneys, as well as Hilda Craig and Penninah Danquah, Senior State Attorneys.

The accused persons were represented as follows: Dr Dominic Aryine for the 1st and 2nd accused persons; Simon Animley, holding the brief of Fred Dotse, for the 3rd accused person; Charles Puozuing for the 4th accused person, Paul Abariga for 5th accused person, George Aborgah for the 7th accused person, Nana Agyei Baffour for the 8th accused person, Godwin Tameklo for 6th and 9th accused persons.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights High Court presided over by Justice Gifty Agyei Addo will, on 26 May 2020, deliver a ruling on an application by the Bank of Ghana seeking to halt proceedings of the case at the High Court.

The Bank of Ghana is challenging the decision of the High Court that dismissed their claim that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear an action instituted by HODA Holdings, challenging the revocation of the license of one of its subsidiary companies, Unicredit Savings and loans.

The High Court, in October last year, dismissed an application by the lawyer of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Frank Davies, seeking to strike out a case filed by UniCredit challenging the revocation of its license. The High Court in its ruling indicated that its jurisdiction has been properly invoked in the matter and subsequently ordered the Bank of Ghana, to file a response to the application brought by the owners of uniCredit Savings and loans. The Court also awarded a cost of GHS3000 against the Bank of Ghana to be paid to uniCredit savings and loans and another GHS2000.00.

Bank of Ghana being dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court proceeded upstairs to the Court of Appeal to quash the High Court ruling because the central bank believes the matter should have been handled at an arbitration level before proceeding to court.