The Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, will be appointing a new judge to sit on the Cecilia Dapaah matter as Justice Edward Twum of the Financial and Economic Division of the High Court will be proceeding on leave.
This move is expected to further delay proceedings in the Cecilia Dapaah matter, thereby allowing more time for the Special Prosecutor to conduct investigations if any on the matter.
Justice Twum announced his leave to lawyers and parties on the Cecilia Dapaah matter on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, and adjourned proceedings to the 29th of November, 2023.
The current judge is expected to resume judicial duties in February of 2024.
The news of the leave of Justice Twum and appointment in his replacement comes after the Chief Justice declined a petition by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to remove Justice Twum from hearing all its cases before him over alleged prejudice in favour of the former Sanitation Minister.
Earlier, the Financial and Economic Court 2 adjourned the trial of Cecilia Dapaah, awaiting the decision of the Chief Justice regarding the OSP’s petition.
The OSP posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Chief Justice had refused to accede to its request. The OSP is expected to move its motion to Stay Proceedings until the determination of the motion of certiorari at the Supreme Court to quash an earlier decision of the Accra High Court.
The court had earlier granted an application of an abridgement of time filed by Cecilia Dapaah, explaining to the court that delay in the hearing of the case was causing her discomfort and stress, since her assets and bank accounts remained seized and frozen. The matter is still ongoing, and the appointment of a new judge to sit on the Cecelia Dapaah case is expected to move the case forward in a timely manner.
By Vincent Kubi