How to resolve AdBlock issue? Judge's Transfer Delays Judgment in Alex Sarfo-Kantanka Bribery Case
Friday, 29 November 2024 | Ghana
The long-awaited judgment in the bribery trial of Alex Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Juaben in the Ashanti Region, has been postponed following a sudden transfer of Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, the presiding judge. The case, which has drawn national attention due to allegations of election-related corruption, has been adjourned to January 20, 2025, after the appointment of a new judge.
Sarfo-Kantanka was charged with 26 counts of corruption by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for allegedly offering bribes to assembly members in exchange for their approval of his nomination as Juaben MCE. The trial, which began in 2022, was set to conclude on November 28, 2024, but the unexpected judicial reshuffle has caused a significant delay.
At the court's session on Thursday, the accused appeared with new legal counsel, who argued that their client wished to file written submissions that his previous lawyer had failed to complete. The newly assigned judge, citing unfamiliarity with the case, announced the need for time to review the docket thoroughly. This development led to the postponement of the judgment, sparking concerns about the implications of the delay, especially as it coincides with the transition period following Ghana’s December 7 general elections.
The case stems from incidents dating back to 2021 when Sarfo-Kantanka allegedly attempted to bribe members of the Juaben Municipal Assembly to secure his confirmation as MCE. After two rounds of voting in September and November 2021, he failed to meet the required two-thirds majority, receiving only 10 votes in favor against 15 votes against, with one ballot rejected.
In the aftermath, Sarfo-Kantanka was captured in a viral video angrily demanding refunds from the assembly members, claiming he had paid them GH¢5,000 each and GH¢2,500 to government appointees to influence their votes. The footage, which the Kumasi High Court admitted as evidence in June 2023, played a crucial role in the OSP’s case against him.
The OSP, in a 2022 statement, disclosed that Sarfo-Kantanka admitted to giving the funds to assembly members in an effort to secure their support. Following his public outburst, he was arrested and granted self-recognizance bail on November 1, 2021.
Justice Ofori’s transfer raises questions about judicial continuity and the timing of such administrative decisions. Critics argue that delays in high-profile cases like this undermine public confidence in the judicial process and the fight against corruption.
As the trial resumes in January 2025, the delay adds another chapter to an already contentious case that has highlighted challenges in Ghana’s local governance system and election-related accountability.
Sarfo-Kantanka was charged with 26 counts of corruption by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for allegedly offering bribes to assembly members in exchange for their approval of his nomination as Juaben MCE. The trial, which began in 2022, was set to conclude on November 28, 2024, but the unexpected judicial reshuffle has caused a significant delay.
At the court's session on Thursday, the accused appeared with new legal counsel, who argued that their client wished to file written submissions that his previous lawyer had failed to complete. The newly assigned judge, citing unfamiliarity with the case, announced the need for time to review the docket thoroughly. This development led to the postponement of the judgment, sparking concerns about the implications of the delay, especially as it coincides with the transition period following Ghana’s December 7 general elections.
The case stems from incidents dating back to 2021 when Sarfo-Kantanka allegedly attempted to bribe members of the Juaben Municipal Assembly to secure his confirmation as MCE. After two rounds of voting in September and November 2021, he failed to meet the required two-thirds majority, receiving only 10 votes in favor against 15 votes against, with one ballot rejected.
In the aftermath, Sarfo-Kantanka was captured in a viral video angrily demanding refunds from the assembly members, claiming he had paid them GH¢5,000 each and GH¢2,500 to government appointees to influence their votes. The footage, which the Kumasi High Court admitted as evidence in June 2023, played a crucial role in the OSP’s case against him.
The OSP, in a 2022 statement, disclosed that Sarfo-Kantanka admitted to giving the funds to assembly members in an effort to secure their support. Following his public outburst, he was arrested and granted self-recognizance bail on November 1, 2021.
Justice Ofori’s transfer raises questions about judicial continuity and the timing of such administrative decisions. Critics argue that delays in high-profile cases like this undermine public confidence in the judicial process and the fight against corruption.
As the trial resumes in January 2025, the delay adds another chapter to an already contentious case that has highlighted challenges in Ghana’s local governance system and election-related accountability.