Thursday, 26 June

OSP appeals High Court ruling acquitting Juaben MCE nominee bibery case

Crime
OSP logo

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision in Kumasi that acquitted and discharged Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, the nominee of former President Akufo-Addo for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Juaben in the Ashanti Region.

Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka was at the centre of a high-profile corruption case after a widely circulated video showed him demanding refunds from Assembly Members who had voted against his nomination.

The OSP subsequently charged him with 26 counts of corruption, alleging that he had paid bribes in a bid to influence the confirmation process.

Although the court was initially expected to deliver its verdict in November 2024, the ruling was delayed following the unexpected transfer of the presiding judge. The judgment was eventually handed down on May 26, 2025, resulting in Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka's acquittal.

In its ruling, the High Court held that the viral video footage was insufficient to establish a direct connection between the accused and the alleged acts of bribery.

However, the OSP has strongly disagreed with this interpretation, arguing that the judge failed to give proper weight to the available evidence and made significant legal and factual errors in reaching the decision.

 

Describing the outcome as a miscarriage of justice, the OSP has confirmed that it has initiated an appeal to overturn the ruling and seek a fresh judicial review of the case at the appellate level.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah