By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, April 23, GNA – The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution challenging a court ruling regarding its prosecutorial mandate.
When the case was called on Thursday, the prosecution informed the court that since the last adjourned date, there had been significant developments in related proceedings before the General Jurisdiction Court 10 and the Supreme Court concerning the powers of the OSP to prosecute.
This had led to the adjournment of the criminal case involving Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, a former Minister of Finance and seven others.
The prosecution invited the court to take judicial notice of those proceedings, indicating that they had a direct impact on the ongoing case.
They explained that, in view of the ruling which questioned the prosecutorial mandate of the OSP, the Office had taken steps to file an appeal together with an application for stay of execution, with a return date of May 21, 2026.
The prosecution therefore prayed the court to adjourn the matter pending the determination of the application for Stay of Execution.
Lawyers for all accused persons present in court, except for Mr Ofori-Atta and his Chief of Staff, Ernest Akore, did not oppose the request but urged the court to fix a reasonably date to avoid repeated adjournments.
The court was told that Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Akore remained fugitives, with extradition processes ongoing in the United States, alongside summons issued against them.
The court in its ruling referenced the decision of a judge at General Jurisdiction 10 and the subsequent the two applications filed by the OSP.
The court held that considering that May 21, 2026 was the return date, it was fair to adjourn the case to date after the return date
The case has accordingly been adjourned to May 26, 2026.
GNA
23 April 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong
Reporter: [email protected]