Accra: The prosecution of the former Chief Executive Officer of National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited encountered another setback when an attempt to proceed with the Case Management Conference was halted. This was due to the prosecution's failure to file signed witness statements, which is contrary to the court's rules.
According to Ghana Web, at the hearing, Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai informed the court, presided over by Justice Francis Achibonga, that all necessary documents had been filed and that the Republic was ready to commence the case management conference. However, Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for the first accused, objected to the commencement, arguing that the accused had been served with only one witness statement. He asserted that the other documents could not be considered valid under Ghana's criminal laws as they were neither signed nor verified, as required by the Practice Directions Disclosures and Case Management Rules.
Dame emphasized that these rules stipulate the prosecution must file and serve all witness statements and documents on the accused persons before a case management conference can proceed. Dr Srem-Sai countered that case management conference is a process and that witness statements could be filed subsequently. He argued that there is no requirement for witness statements to be filed before the commencement of a case management conference.
Justice Achibonga upheld the objection, stating that while case management conference is indeed a process, it cannot proceed without signed witness statements from the prosecution. He remarked that an unsigned witness statement holds no value. Furthermore, he noted that the prosecution's failure to file signed witness statements indicated non-compliance with the court's previous order to file all documents intended for reliance.
Justice Achibonga emphasized the importance of signed witness statements, as they could be tendered by the defense even if the prosecution chose not to use them. Consequently, he ruled that the case management conference could not proceed under the current circumstances and adjourned proceedings to June 9 and June 11, 2027, expressing hope that the prosecution would file the necessary signed statements by then.