The Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case involving four accused persons was on Thursday adjourned to Tuesday, January 28.
This followed a brief meeting in chambers between the trial judge and counsel on both sides.
Immediately after the meeting, a clerk of the Fast Track Court (FTC) hearing the case announced the date, but assigned no reason for the adjournment.
It is, however, believed that it was due to the boycott of the courts by members of the Greater-Accra Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association.
The four accused persons standing trial at the FTC in the GREL divestiture case are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman and Sati Dorcas Ocran, housewife.
They are facing various charges on bribery and corruption in connection with the privatisation of the company.
They have all pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail in their own recognisance.
Mr Johnny Quarshie-Idun, Mr David Lamptey, Mr J E Senoo, Mr Rodney Heward-Mills and Mr Tony Lithur are defending the accused persons.
Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General, is leading the prosecution team made up of Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Augustine Obour, Assistant State Attorney.
After a peaceful demonstration at the premises of the Supreme Court yesterday, members of the association resolved to withdraw their services from the law courts today in protest against what they termed "the illegal filing fees".
They resolved to be on strike until "the illegal filing fees" were withdrawn, pending the proper placement of the proposals for the increase before Parliament.
Meanwhile, the National Executives of the Association would hold a meeting with the Chief Justice over the issue this afternoon, after which they would brief members on its outcome.
Prince Frederick Nii-Ashie Neequaye, spokesman of the association who spoke to newsmen at the Supreme Court premises said before "the illegal filing fees" were announced, an application for the filing of letters of administration, for instance cost between three and five thousand cedis.
Prince Neequaye said the fee had shot up to as much as 204,000 cedis.
He said previously, it cost a lawyer only 30,000 cedis to file a writ in a land case, but "the illegal filing fee" is now one million cedis.
The spokesman said "the illegal filing fee" of an injunction now stood at 300,000 cedis, as against between five and 10,000 cedis previously.
