The Accra High Court has adjourned proceedings in the high-profile case of The Republic v. Kenneth Ofori-Atta and Nine Others to February 26, 2026. The adjournment is intended to allow the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to complete the complex process of serving court summons on two accused persons currently hiding in the United States of America.
During the latest hearing, it was revealed that the court granted the OSP’s application for summons on December 11, 2025. Given the international nature of the case, the court acknowledged the multiple jurisdictional layers required for the extradition process.
The service of summons outside Ghana follows a rigorous bureaucratic path. Prosecutors explained that the documents must transition from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, eventually reaching the United States Department of Justice. The U.S. authorities will then be responsible for reviewing the request and effecting service on the individuals.
The OSP confirmed that the summons has already been transmitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the international legal machinery is currently in motion.
The case also saw a significant shift in legal representation. At the sitting held on January 29, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of SML announced a change in his legal team. The CEO and the company have officially added the esteemed Professor Kwame Gyan to their defense counsel.
A key moment in the proceedings involved an attempt by the defense to ease the bail conditions for the eight accused persons currently in the country. Defense lawyers sought to change the reporting requirement to the OSP from weekly to once a month.
However, the prosecution strongly opposed this application. The trial judge agreed with the OSP, refusing the request for variation and ordering that the existing bail terms—including the weekly reporting—must remain in force to ensure the integrity of the trial.
The OSP indicated that it is in the process of preparing further disclosures. While some documents have been filed, they are yet to be served on the accused persons.
With the extradition process underway and disclosures pending, all parties are expected back in court on February 26, 2026, for a continuation of the case.
