The High Court has rejected an oral application filed by lawyers for Gifty Oware Aboagye Mensah seeking to stay proceedings in the ongoing National Service Scheme (NSS) scandal trial.
The application was made on Monday, May 11, at the High Court (Criminal Division 4), where the case was scheduled to continue with testimony from the first prosecution witness.
Before proceedings could begin, defence counsel Gary Nimako Marfo informed the court that the accused had filed an application at the Supreme Court of Ghana challenging the constitutionality of part of a 2018 practice direction issued by the Chief Justice.
The legal challenge relates to an earlier directive requiring the accused to submit the names and addresses of defence witnesses.
Counsel argued that a stay of proceedings had been filed on May 8, 2026, and claimed it had been served on both the Attorney-General and the registrar of the High Court. On that basis, he urged the court to suspend the trial pending the Supreme Court’s determination.
However, the trial judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, noted that there was no official proof before the court confirming service of the application.
The court instructed the clerk to verify the claim with the registrar, but it was later confirmed that no such process had been received.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the mere filing of a case at the Supreme Court does not automatically halt proceedings at the High Court.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the court could not be restrained simply on the basis of a filed application without an express order from the Supreme Court.
She therefore directed that the trial should proceed.
The case has since been adjourned to Monday, May 18, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to continue presenting its evidence-in-chief as the NSS scandal trial progresses.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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