Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, an Accra High Court judge, has told the legal team for former Deputy National Service Director, Gifty Oware-Mensah, that they have seven days to file their witnesses.
According to the High Court Judge, should Gifty Oware-Mensah fail to comply with the order, the court will be forced to advise itself.
The High Court had earlier ordered the accused to file her list of witnesses on December 22, 2025, but she failed to file them.
Gary Nimako Marfo told the court that she is unable to call any witnesses argyuing that his client’s ability to provide witnesses depends on the case and the nature of the evidence.
However, the Judge disagreed saying, “As already indicated above, these are orders emanating from the law and principles of case management. It is an order given by the court,” she said. “It is not for counsel to choose and pick which orders of the court he would comply with and when it would be complied with.”
“If, for any reason, counsel is of the view that the orders of the court are not emanating from the principles of law, he must exercise the right timeously to appeal against the same,” she said.
Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay adjourned the case for the trial to start January 22, 2026.
Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, an Accra High Court judge presiding over the case of former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah, has rejected a request to slow down proceedings.
Gary Nimako Marfo, the lawyer for Gifty Oware, pleaded with the court to delay the commencement of her trial to allow more time to address pre-trial issues.
He made this plea following the Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, informing the court of the prosecution’s intention to make adjustments to the figures in the charge sheet.
The presiding judge, however unhappy with the approach, stated that the proposed amendments would not stop the court from fixing a date for the trial to begin.
The Judge stated, “If I were you, I would have asked one of my colleagues to quickly do that and serve them now because they [counsel for the accused] are here”.
Lawyers for embattled Oware-Mensah saw an opportunity to request that the court allow more time for the amendments to be completed and served before a trial date is fixed.
Gary Nimako Marfo stated, “My Lady, let the prosecution amend the charge sheet as she has informed the court before setting a date for the trial. Without that, it is obvious we cannot do anything,” he said, before adding, “My Lady, please go slowly.”
Justice Kocuvi-Tay immediately ordered defence counsel to withdraw their statement, saying, “What do you mean by I should go slowly? Withdraw that statement. I am here to work”.