THE REPUBLIC vs. STEPHEN KWABENA OPUNI , SEIDU AGONGO , AGRICULT GHANA LTD. [2023]DLCA16446

Date	2023-04-04
Suit No.	SUIT NO. CR/158/2018
Citation No.	[2023]DLCA16446

HIS LORDSHIP K. A. GYIMAH

EVELYN KEELSON CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY WITH STELLA OHENE APPIAH PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY AND ENAM LOH MENSAH STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC.

SAMUEL CODJOE WITH JOHNSON NORMESINU AND JESSICA ANSAH ANTWI FOR 1ST ACCUSED PERSON.

BENSON NUTSUKPUI WITH JOEL ANNOR AFARI EMMANUEL KUMADEY AKWELEY GABOR SENAM NUTSUKPUI AND SEYRAM NUTSUKPUI FOR 2ND AND 3RD ACCUSED PERSONS.

[2023]DLCA16446
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>STEPHEN KWABENA OPUNI <o:p></o:p>(1ST ACCUSED)<o:p></o:p>SEIDU AGONGO <o:p></o:p>(2ND
ACCUSED)<o:p></o:p>AGRICULT GHANA LTD. <o:p></o:p>(3RD
ACCUSED)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

SUIT NO. CR/158/2018&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE:
4TH&nbsp;APRIL 2023<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>EVELYN
KEELSON CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY WITH STELLA OHENE APPIAH PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY
AND ENAM LOH MENSAH STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC.<o:p></o:p>SAMUEL
CODJOE WITH JOHNSON NORMESINU AND JESSICA ANSAH ANTWI FOR 1ST ACCUSED PERSON.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

</div>&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>Introduction
<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;By an order of transfer dated 20th
March 2023, his Lordship the Chief Justice transferred this case to me to
handle after the original judge handling the matter retired from the Judicial
Service and exhausted the six months extension that was given to him by the
Chief Justice without having concluded the matter. Parties and their counsel
were duly notified to appear before me on 30th March 2023 and on
that day, I invited arguments from counsel on the way forward with the case.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Prosecution’s
arguments in support of adoption of proceedings<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The prosecution led by Chief State
Attorney Evelyn Keelson submitted that the court should adopt the proceedings
that had taken place before his Lordship C. J. Honyenuga JSC and continue with
the trial. They argued that there is no law that inhibits the court from
adopting proceedings and further that if the court adopts the proceedings,
there will be no miscarriage of justice. Counsel referred the court to cases
such as Republic v. High Court (Criminal Division) Accra, Ex parte Francis
Arthur; Civil Motion No. J5/29/2016 (SC), Collins Asabire
&amp; Anor v. The Republic; Case No. F23/12/2022 (HC), The
Republic
v. Justice Osei Kofi; Suit No. ST13/12/2022 (HC) and Agyemang (substituted) by Banahene
&amp; others v. Anane [2013-14] 1 SCGLR 241. The prosecution argued that in the
cases cited, there were instances where the court adopted proceedings in part
heard criminal matters and continued with the trial. They argued that in Ex
parte Francis Arthur for example, the Supreme Court prohibited a trial
judge from continuing with the hearing of a matter and the case was placed
before another judge who adopted proceedings and continued with the trial. The
said case in point is The Republic v. Francis Arthur; Suit No.
ST46/2013.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Counsel argued that to determine
whether to adopt proceedings in a part heard criminal case or not, some of the
factors the court has to consider include the length of time that has been
spent on the case so far and the nature of the proceedings as at that stage.
Counsel drew the court’s attention to the fact that the present case has been
ongoing for a period of over five years and this is something that must weigh
heavily on the court and convince the court to adopt proceedings. Counsel
further argued that the trial in the present suit is at an advanced stage where
the prosecution has closed its case and the 1st accused has opened
his defence and has called seven witnesses already. Counsel further argued that
should the court refuse to adopt proceedings but order a trial de novo, it will
occasi</main>