Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
An application by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to have Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s case heard by a different judge was rejected by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The OSP made this known on Wednesday, October 25.
The OSP had already been ordered by Justice Edward Twum to refund money that had been taken from the former Minister’s home.
Although the OSP complied, they also issued a new freezing order and confiscated the money that same day. Subsequently, the prosecution filed additional court documents requesting confirmation of the new order for seizure and freeze by the High Court. The court was originally scheduled to hear this matter on October 18, but Madam Dapaah requested an accelerated hearing, citing hardship and embarrassment she was experiencing. Judge Twum granted this motion and continued the hearings until October 12.
“By a letter dated 25 October 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed The Special Prosecutor that, the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from all cases involving the OSP pending before him,” the OSP tweeted.
On October 12, Justice Twum said that he had received a letter from the OSP requesting a different judge to hear the case. The former minister’s attorneys took note of this and expressed their disapproval. Lead attorney Victoria Barth brought up the fact that the OSP was not even polite enough to appear in court. She went on to say that the request was misguided and intended to annoy Madam Dapaah.
“We see it as a deliberate ploy to frustrate this morning’s hearing and a desperate attempt to avoid his own ill-fated application and there shall be a day of reckoning. He says he’s the conscience of the nation he should, he should be above this”
The former minister is also accused of not honoring a legitimate demand made by an authorized office.
The Chief Justice has received a similar request from the OSP. Ms. Barth was unimpressed once more. She continued by saying that her client was not even fully informed about this situation.
It’s unclear exactly what the OSP had against the judge, but according to three news outlets, the main point of contention was the judge’s first decision to not confirm the freezing order.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
