Cecilia Dapaah trial: No need to remove judge – Chief Justice to OSP

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has rejected a demand by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to remove the judge handling the case of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

This development was revealed by the OSP on Wednesday, October 25.

“By a letter dated October 25, 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed the Special Prosecutor that the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from all cases involving the OSP pending before him,” the OSP stated in a tweet.

Justice Edward Twum recently instructed the OSP to release cash seized from the residence of the former minister.

The OSP obeyed the order, but on the same fateful day, it seized the money once again and issued a fresh freezing order. Prosecutors then filed fresh court processes, asking the High Court to confirm this new seizure and freeze order. This case was originally to be heard on October 18, but Madam Dapaah appealed to the court to have an expedited hearing, explaining she was being subjected to embarrassment and hardship. This request was granted by Justice Twum as he adjourned proceedings to October 12.

Lead counsel Victoria Barth pointed out that the OSP didn’t show up in court.

She stressed that the request was ill-fated and aimed at frustrating Madam Dapaah.

“We see it as a deliberate ploy to frustrate this morning’s hearing and a desperate attempt to avoid his own ill-fated application, and there shall be a day of reckoning. He says he’s the conscience of the nation; he should be above this.”

Madam Dapaah has also been slapped with the charge for her inability to comply with the lawful demand of an authorized office. The OSP has also made the same request to the Chief Justice. The request does not sit well with Ms. Barth.

She noted that her client has zero knowledge about the case.

“This charge sheet, save from being casually handed to the accused persons by persons suspected to be from the OSP, was not properly served. I didn’t have summons or a return date,” she stated.

By Lawrence Odoom