Lawyers for former NAFCO boss, Adu-Boahene petition Chief Justice over trial during legal vacation

Abdul-Hanan Wahab and Kwabena Adu-Boahene's lawyers wrote separately to the Chief Justice on August 5, protesting the decision to allow their criminal trials to proceed during the judicial legal vacation. The legal teams, led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame for Abdul-Hanan Wahab and Samuel Atta Akyea for Kwabena Adu-Boahene, contend that commencing the trials during the vacation is inconsistent with long-standing judicial practice and the rules governing the sittings of the Superior Courts.

The lawyers informed the Chief Justice that they would not participate in proceedings scheduled during the legal vacation. Mr. Dame stated that the trial judge informed the parties at the previous sitting that he had received authorisation to hear the case during the vacation and advised that any concerns should be directed to the Chief Justice. The letter argues that the trial had not yet commenced before the vacation and therefore should not be listed for hearing during the period. Samuel Atta Akyea similarly objected, arguing there were no exceptional circumstances warranting the matter being heard during the judicial recess.