The panel of three, presided over by Justice Anthony Oppong, has directed the convict applicant to deposit his passport at the registry of the court.

Among these notable lawyers are Yaw Oppong, the Director of the Ghana School of Law, and Charles Zwennes from the esteemed Gaisie, Zwennes and Hughes law firm.

Also included is Dr. Poku-Adusei, a legal academic who has dedicated a significant portion of his teaching career at the University of Ghana Law Faculty. He is also Director of Legal Affairs of the National Communications Authority (NCA).

One of the outstanding lawyers recommended for the Court of Appeal is Ms. Mariam Agyeman Gyasi Jawhary from Totoe Legal Service, a law firm with branches in both Accra and Kumasi.

Additionally, Ms. Yaa Onyameye Gyakobo, a Deputy National Executive Committee member, has caught the attention of the President as she assists the learned Gyau Baffour in secretarial duties for the Executive Committee of the Bar Association.

This list of non-judges also includes six highly accomplished females recommended for the Court of Appeal Bench.

Justice Alexander Osei Tutu has established a reputation for himself through his exceptional legal writing skills and mastery of court rules.

David Boafo, the Managing Partner of S.K Boafo and Company, brings 24 years of legal practice experience and a commendable mentoring spirit.

The complete list of recommended individuals for the Court of Appeal Bench, who are expected to strengthen the number of justices for Court of Appeal sittings outside Greater Accra, is as follows:

1. His Lordship Justin Dorgu J
2. Her Ladyship Gifty Dekyem J
3. His Lordship Kofi Akowah J
4. His Lordship Gyamfi-Danquah J
5. Her Ladyship Olivia Obeng Owusu J
6. Her Ladyship Cecilia Davis J
7. His Lordship George Krofa Addae J
8. His Lordship Alexander Osei Tutu J
9. His Lordship Francis Obiri J
10. His Lordship Kwasi Boakye J
11. Her Ladyship Lydia Osei-Marfo J
12. His Lordship Aboagye Tandoh J
13. Ms. Mariam Agyeman Gyasi Jawhary
14. Ms. Yaa Onyameye Gyakobo
15. Mr. Charles Zwennes
16. Mr. Yaw Oppong
17. Mr. Nathan Parker Yarney
18. Mr. David Boafo
19. Mr. Francis Koffie
20. Dr. Poku Adusei

These recommended individuals will contribute to reinforcing the existing number of Court of Appeal Justices and enhance the efficiency of Court of Appeal sittings outside Greater Accra.

The Judicial Council will now review these nominations and decide on their suitability for appointment to the Court of Appeal.

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This order is to help end 13 years of land litigation on the Gomoa Fetteh Land.

In September 2005, upon an application by the Chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh to the High Court in Cape Coast, the court issued an order of mandamus compelling the Lands Commission to register the land documents of the 21^st Century Company and its sister companies, as well as documents given to their customers.

Following the failure of the Lands Commission to register the said lands, the chiefs filed a motion for contempt of court, and this culminated in the parties filing in court some terms of settlement.

The commission made a publication in the Daily Graphic on June 18, 2020 upon which the Lands Commission gave notice to delete land registration of the persons whose lands have been affected.

To the Chiefs, the 21 days notice expired but the commission made no effort to delete their names, hence the decision to take the matter back to court.

The court, presided over by Justice Poku-Acheampng, Justice Kyei Baffour and Justice Archer compelled the Lands Commission to delete the land registration on the portions of the lands at Gomoa Fetteh.

Addressing a news conference, the Twafohene of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council and Chief of Gomoa Fetteh, Nana Abor Atta II, revealed that in  the early 90s , the manager of 21st Century, Kofi Asmah, acquired 3,000 acres of Land from chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh for estate purposes  but the Lands Commission made a mistake and registered over 12,000 acres of land for the company without the knowledge of the chiefs.

The chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh took the matter to court and have legally fought for the right thing to be done for the past 13 years.

Nana Abor Atta II appealed to the Lands Commission to do their investigations well before registering Lands for individuals and estate companies to reduce land litigations in the area.

Meanwhile Omankrado of Gomoa Fetteh, Nana Kwesi Quansah, also appealed to the IGP to call some personnel of the Ghana Police Service to order when it comes to their style of arrests.

Nana Kwesi Quansah says some police officers are still used to the ‘rambo style of arrest’ during their operations.

After the press conference, JoyNews contacted the management of the 21st Century company.  But the company did not comment on the judgment by the court.

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• Lands Commission boss cited for contempt of court

• Ga West MCE blames Lands Commission and Assembly for land encroachment

This is because the Court of Appeal has in a unanimous decision ruled that the High Court got it wrong when it indicated that it will no longer rely on its records gathered since 2017.

The new Judge, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah had indicated it would be unfair for him to adopt a proceeding that was “saddled” with numerous allegations.

The Attorney General (AG) was directed to file all evidence to be used in the trial once again.

The AG however took the matter to the Court of Appeal urging it to set aside this decision.

He argued that the Judge considered matters which were not relevant to reach this conclusion.

The Court of Appeal unanimously agreed with this position.

“We are persuaded the lower court misdirected itself and came to a wrong conclusion on the case. The decision of the High Court is referred to this court and Appeal is allowed in its entirety.

“The application for the judge to adopt previous proceedings is granted. The proceedings of the previous court presided over by Justice Honyenuga are to be adopted by the high court differently constituted. The registrar is ordered accordingly.”

The Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame told pressmen that it was important for cases whether high profile or everyday ones to be dealt with expeditiously.

He pointed out it was actually in the interest of the accused and the state that trial time is reduced.

“It is actually not unconventional for criminal proceedings to be adopted. We felt that the matters that were relied upon by the trial judge were actually with all respect to him not relevant.

“It will amount to giving the same evidence twice. What is there to fear? If a party conducts his case very well? It is only in this country that trial especially related to financial offences takes long to conclude. Such trials need to be concluded in no time”

Dr Opuni has been standing trial for causing financial loss to the state since 2017.

The trial of former Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) CEO, Dr Stephen Opuni, will no longer start afresh.

This is because the Court of Appeal has in a unanimous decision ruled that the High Court got it wrong when it indicated that it will no longer rely on its records gathered since 2017.

The new Judge, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah had indicated it would be unfair for him to adopt a proceeding that was “saddled” with numerous allegations.

The Attorney General (AG) was directed to file all evidence to be used in the trial once again.

The AG however took the matter to the Court of Appeal urging it to set aside this decision.

He argued that the Judge considered matters which were not relevant to reach this conclusion.

The Court of Appeal unanimously agreed with this position.

“We are persuaded the lower court misdirected itself and came to a wrong conclusion on the case. The decision of the High Court is referred to this court and Appeal is allowed in its entirety.

“The application for the judge to adopt previous proceedings is granted. The proceedings of the previous court presided over by Justice Honyenuga are to be adopted by the high court differently constituted. The registrar is ordered accordingly.”

The Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame told pressmen that it was important for cases whether high profile or everyday ones to be dealt with expeditiously.

He pointed out it was actually in the interest of the accused and the state that trial time is reduced.

“It is actually not unconventional for criminal proceedings to be adopted. We felt that the matters that were relied upon by the trial judge were actually with all respect to him not relevant.

“It will amount to giving the same evidence twice. What is there to fear? If a party conducts his case very well? It is only in this country that trial especially related to financial offences takes long to conclude. Such trials need to be concluded in no time”

Dr Opuni has been standing trial for causing financial loss to the state since 2017.

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• Witnesses ‘running away’ from Opuni’s trial – Deputy A-G tells court

• Dr Opuni and others’ case before new judge

The Court, on Wednesday, December 15, ruled to stop a custodial 90-day sentence she was serving in exchange for a fine of GHS 12,000.

This was after her lawyer, Andy Vortia, made an appeal against the High Court’s dismissal of her initial appeal which ruled for her to complete the 82-day term.

The actress had served eight days before her bail.

Acting on the initial sentence, a three-panel bench of the Court of Appeal ruled that the decision was not to quash the initial ruling, as it was in the right direction.

However, it is reported that the court took into consideration, her eight-year-old son and her status as a single mother.

The court also tampered justice with mercy on the basis that the charges of publication of obscene material and domestic violence is her first encounter with the law.

Akuapem Poloo was arrested and subsequently charged on July 6, 2020, for posting a nude photo of herself kneeling in front of her son to mark his birthday.

She was heavily chastised by the Gender Ministry and Child Rights International, who took up the matter.

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