Treason Trial: High Court adjourns Barker-Vormawor’s case for stay of proceedings

The motion for a stay of proceedings filed by, a former convenor for #fixthecountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been adjourned to October 22, 2024, by the High Court.

Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s motion, filed by his lawyers, seeks to challenge a ruling by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.

On May 27, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh dismissed Vormawor’s request to refer to the Supreme Court on “whether Section 182 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) is inconsistent with or in contravention of Article 3(2), Article 3(3), Article 19(11), or Article 21(1)(a) and (b) of the 1992 Constitution.”

Addressing the press at the court premises, Barker-Vormawor stated he wasn’t surprised by the turn out of events, particularly with the case being adjourned.

According to him, the current happenings is an indictment of Ghana’s judicial system and democracy.

“If anybody said they were surprised by the turn of events, then the person obviously has not been interested in our republic for a very long time. I mean it is part of the process, we know that you have institutions that are not committed to getting into this matter. The president and his team have gone to cut meat that is bigger than them to chew, unable to show up at any point to put this matter to rest and they don’t have the humility to withdraw the case.

“But the truth is that, for me, it’s a bigger indictment on our court system and even we the people of Ghana. That we can allow these things to happen in our democracy, that you know persons who are demanding better for our democracy will be subjected to this charade and then we look on and then its business as usual. Maybe tomorrow we will be different, maybe tomorrow we will become Kenyans and then we’ll see a different kind of republic but today, we are Ghanaians and so we are getting the kind of democracy we have allowed to happen,” he noted.

Juxtaposing the state of Ghana’s democracy to that of Kenyans, Barker-Vormawor asserted that Ghanaians do not practice democracy as effectively compared to other African countries.

“By every measure in every account, young Kenyans demanded for a new constitution, they got it. They wanted a more independent judiciary, they got it and when the president misbehaves, they are on the street and demanding for reforms to how they are governed economically. They’re getting it. Today they are demanding for persons who killed protestors to be brought to justice, they got it.

“Today journalists are out protesting against persons who were killed in this country. Here, they look aside so by every measure and every account, they have for themselves a democracy that is worthy of its name. Others say it is not possible in Africa. Other African countries are showing it, so tomorrow maybe we’ll become Kenyans,” Barker-Vormawor stated.

Background

Oliver Barker-Vormawor refused to plead to two counts of treason felony on June 1, 2023, when he was arraigned before the High Court. Rejecting the charges, the political activist argued, the charges are ‘defective’ in open court.

Citing his reasons, he said that the amended charge sheet filed by the prosecution was defective, exercising his rights under Section 238 of the Criminal Offences Code not to respond to the charges.

MAG/ ADG