The Accra High Court has granted the former GRA boss, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, and four others, GHS50 million bail each with two sureties in the SML case.
The five accused persons are standing trial with former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Ernest Darko Akore for causing financial loss to the state and using public office for profit.
Emmanuel Kofi Nti, former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), is facing 39 counts, and Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, is facing 19 counts. Evans Adusei, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Commissioner-General of GRA, who is facing 10 counts, all pleaded not guilty.
Ken Ofori-Atta, who faces 28 counts, Ernest Darko Akore, facing 12 counts and Kwadwo Damoah, the MP for Jaman South, facing 8 counts, were all absent in court.
The accused persons have been ordered to deposit all passports and travel documents with the registry and also report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) once every week.
Judge Justice Francis Aponga Achiponga, delivering the ruling on Thursday, December 11, highlighted that the accused persons have demonstrated through their OSP bail terms that they were not flight risks, adding that the bail terms would not take immediate effect due to the court closing late.
The accused were ordered to report to the OSP on Friday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. to begin the process of their bail requirements.
In all the Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others are standing trial for causing the state losses exceeding GHS 1.4 billion.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, providing an update on the case Republic v Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta & 7 Ors, wrote, “The High Court has granted the OSP’s application to serve summons on Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta (A1) and his Chief of Staff Ernest Akore (A2), with proceedings held in camera.
The Court admitted Emmanuel Kofi Nti (A3), Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah (A4), Isaac Crentsil (A5), Evans Adusei (A7), and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (A8) to GH¢50 million bail each, with two sureties to be justified. They must deposit all passports and travel documents and report to the OSP once every week”.
The OSP added that the bail terms will take effect on Monday, 15 December.
“Because the Court closed late, the bail terms will take effect on Monday, 15 December, when the accused persons return to complete the bail procedures. Until then, they remain on their existing OSP bail terms.
The Prosecution’s case is that the accused persons engaged in a scheme to improperly secure procurement contracts for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd, resulting in financial losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion. They are also accused of influencing the procurement process for unlawful gain and using public office for profit. Further billions of dollars were expected to be paid, but for the intervention of the State”.
The statement further revealed that the case has been adjourned to 17 December 2025 for the court to take Kwadwo Damoah (A6 )’s plea.
“The case has been adjourned to 17 December 2025 for Kwadwo Damoah (A6), MP for Jaman South, to appear and take his plea after the Court declined a prosecution request for a bench warrant, holding that he enjoyed parliamentary immunity at the time of service because Parliament was in session on the day in question”, the post concluded.
See the post below:
The Republic v Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta & 7 Ors
— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) December 11, 2025
The High Court has granted the OSP’s application to serve summons on Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta (A1) and his Chief of Staff Ernest Akore (A2), with proceedings held in camera.
The Court admitted Emmanuel Kofi Nti (A3),… pic.twitter.com/IAmGICazOl