The Accra High Court has dismissed an application by Gifty Oware Mensah seeking to suspend proceedings in her ongoing criminal case.
Her legal team had requested a stay of proceedings pending an appeal at the Court of Appeal, which challenges an earlier directive requiring her to disclose the names and addresses of her witnesses during a case management conference.
Oware Mensah, who faces charges including abuse of public office for personal gain, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, has pleaded not guilty and is currently on bail.
Following the court’s decision on Tuesday, March 24, defence counsel—led by Nana Benyin Ackon, holding brief for Gary Nimako—informed the court of a fresh notice seeking another stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.
The appeal also contests the High Court’s refusal to refer aspects of the case to the Supreme Court of Ghana for constitutional interpretation. The defence argues that the Practice Direction on Disclosure at the case management stage, which mandates the filing of witness details, is inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay directed the defence to serve the prosecution with their supplementary affidavits. The case has been adjourned to April 15.
Meanwhile, the prosecution indicated that although they had received notice of the application for a stay of proceedings, they were yet to be served with the supplementary affidavits after filing their opposition.
Source: 3news
