By Morkporkpor Anku,
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – Lawyers for Kwabena Adu-Boahene, former Director-Genera of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), have asked the Chief Justice to suspend his criminal trial during the legal vacation.
The defence is seeking the withdrawal of a directive that allows the part-heard case to continue before Specialised Court One during the vacation period.
The request was contained in a petition signed by Mr Samuel Atta-Akyea, Head of Chambers at Zoe, Akyea & Co., and submitted to the Chief Justice.
The petition said the defence had been informed of a warrant issued under the Chief Justice’s authority directing Specialised Court One, presided over by Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, to continue hearing the matter.
It said the court had subsequently fixed August 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
The lawyers said they would be unable to attend the scheduled sittings because the directive required counsel for the accused persons to work during the legal vacation, a period when other lawyers were not required to undertake regular court duties.
The petition said members of the law firm had worked throughout the legal year, from October 2025 to July 2026, handling cases before courts across the country.
The defence argued that the legal vacation served as a period for judges and lawyers to rest after an intensive legal year.
It further raised concerns about the continued hearing of selected cases during the vacation, arguing that this could create perceptions of unequal treatment, as other criminal and civil matters had been adjourned to later dates in October and November 2026.
The lawyers relied on Article 125(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by an independent Judiciary subject only to the Constitution.
The petition said the concerns were being raised because of the importance of maintaining public confidence in the Judiciary.
The defence has therefore asked the Chief Justice to reconsider the directive, withdraw the warrant authorising the vacation sittings and vacate the scheduled hearing dates.
It has also requested that the case resume during the next legal term, in line with the treatment of other pending cases before the courts.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
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