Justice Francis Archibonga has told former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu Boahene he will conduct his own cross-examination if his lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, refuses to show up to court.
According to reports, Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife arrived at court yesterday without their Lawyers when the judge asked where they were; Adu-Boahene replied that he wasn’t sure if his lead lawyer, Atta Akyea, was even in the country.
Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai stood up and stated that the state is well aware of the defence lawyers’ categorical refusal to attend court during the legal vacation.
The presiding judge, Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, gave Kwabena Adu-Boahen and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, a six-day ultimatum to produce their lawyer.
The judge said failure to do so will result in their conducting cross-examination themselves or the prosecution’s witness being discharged.
Justice Francis Archibonga is quoted as saying, “I am adjourning this case to 17th August. If your lawyer still refuses to show up, you [Adu-Boahene] will conduct the trial yourself”.
The development follows Lead counsel for Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, who has declared that he will not appear in court on August 17 for the continuation of his client’s trial during the legal vacation.
He stated that he has already communicated his position to the Chief Justice and will not be in court during the legal vacation.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie told the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and Lawyers representing Abdul-Hanan Wahab and former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Godfred Dame and Atta Akyea that legal vacation doesn’t stop judges from hearing cases.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie debunked suggestions that lawyers can decline to proceed with cases simply because they have been scheduled during the legal vacation.
According to the Chief Justice, a judge who is sitting and ready to hear a case cannot be prevented from doing so purely because counsel has made personal arrangements during the vacation period.
Speaking at the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana in Sunyani in the Bono Region, the Chief Justice stated, “You cannot say that there is legal vacation, so a judge who is actually sitting and ready to do your case cannot do it. No, that’s not it”.
“To write to the Chief Justice to say that the cases should not be adjourned to the vacation, so I am not coming, I have already made arrangements outside, so I am not coming.
“You are a lawyer; you have your clients. If your clients decide to give you leave, well, go on leave, but you cannot say that there is a legal vacation and the judge who is actually sitting cannot do your case. No, that is not it,” he stated.
“No, adjournments are not at the instance of the Chief Justice. Adjournment is a judicial act. This is something that is so basic,” he said.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s comments follow a letter from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) appealing to him over concerns about lawyers being required to appear in court during the legal vacation.
According to the GBA, they are concerned about directives that compel lawyers to appear in court during the vacation period despite indicating their unavailability.
The GBA argued that Counsel are not under any compulsion to appear before a Vacation Court.
They noted that the legal vacation, which runs from August 1 to September 30, is intended to provide judges, lawyers and judicial staff a period of respite following the demanding calendar.
They, however, noted that Vacation Courts may sit to deal with urgent and interlocutory matters during the period.
See the post below:
The Accra High Court has given former National Signals Bureau Director Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife Angela Adjei Boateng a six-day ultimatum to produce their lawyer.
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) August 11, 2026
The judge said failure to do so will result in their conducting cross-examination themselves or the… pic.twitter.com/1eupdWWQv4
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