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The Accra High Court has rejected an application by former Signals Bureau Director-General Kwadwo Adu Boahene to adjourn his ongoing trial pending the Supreme Court’s determination of a review application concerning the hearing of selected criminal cases during the legal vacation.
Counsel for Adu Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, had urged the court to suspend proceedings until September 2, when a three-member panel of the Supreme Court is expected to hear a review application filed by Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Mr Atta Akyea argued that the Supreme Court’s eventual decision could affect the ongoing trial and, therefore, the High Court ought to wait for the apex court’s determination before proceeding.
The application was opposed by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, who maintained that there was no basis for delaying the trial.
According to him, the prosecution was only one day away from closing its case, while the Supreme Court had already ruled on the substantive interlocutory application relating to the conduct of criminal trials during the legal vacation.
He further argued that the mere filing of a review application did not automatically halt proceedings before the High Court.
After considering arguments from both sides, Justice Francis Apanga Achibonga ruled that he had found no legal provision requiring the trial to be suspended under the circumstances.
The judge acknowledged that the earlier Supreme Court decision had been delivered by a single Justice but held that the ruling remained binding until it was overturned or otherwise set aside by a subsequent decision.
Justice Achibonga consequently dismissed the defence’s application for an adjournment, paving the way for the trial to continue.
Adu Boahene trial
Kwadwo Adu Boahene is standing trial together with his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, Mildred Donkor and Advantage Solutions Limited.
They are facing 11 charges, including conspiracy, stealing, using public office for profit, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail.
The latest application is the latest in a series of disagreements between the defence and prosecution over the pace and management of the case.
In July 2025, the High Court dismissed a defence request for further disclosure of National Security operational account records dating back to 1992.
The defence had argued that the records could contain information relevant to the accused persons’ case.
Following that ruling, Mr Atta Akyea sought time to study the decision and determine whether to pursue further legal options, including an appeal or an application for a stay of proceedings.
The prosecution opposed the request and urged the court to allow the trial to continue without what it described as unnecessary delays.
During the proceedings, Mr Atta Akyea accused the prosecution of withholding documents and stated that he would not accept what he described as an “ambulance trial.”
The defence lawyer has consistently maintained that his actions are aimed at protecting due process and securing a fair trial for his client.
He has also argued that the justice system should not create an accelerated process for selected cases while other matters continue under the ordinary rules.