Judge on OSP bribery case against failed MCE nominee transferred

The scheduled date for the delivery of judgement in the criminal case filed by the Special Prosecutor against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the position of Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben saw a dramatic outcome on November 28, 2024.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com, the parties involved in the trial of Alex Sarfo Kantanka arrived at the Criminal Division of the Kumasi High Court on Thursday as scheduled by the presiding judge, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, for a final judgement, but were surprisingly told that she has been transferred.

Sarfo Kantanka is charged with 26 counts of corruption after he was heard in a video that went viral on social media platforms demanding back bribes he paid to assembly members when they failed to approve him.

According to the OSP, the charges were in respect of corruption arising out of two public elections conducted in September and November 2021 for the confirmation or otherwise of his nomination by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the position of Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben in the Ashanti Region.

During the sitting when the case was called, a new lawyer representing the accused implored the court to allow his client to file written submissions, which he noted were not completed by his predecessor.

Upon hearing the argument of the counsel for the accused, the newly assigned judge ruled that he was new to the case and, therefore, required time to review the docket thoroughly.

The new judge thus adjourned the case to January 20, 2025.

GA/AE