An Accra High Court on Tuesday (12 July) dismissed the request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to freeze the assets of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John, a former CEO of the Forestry Commission.
In early June, the OSP froze all the assets of Sir John as part of investigations into the acquisition of state lands and properties that were contained in his will.
The OSP applied to the court for a confirmation of the freezing order but Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe dismissed the case.
In response, the OSP said the court “misapprehended the application”, adding that it will appeal against the ruling.
“On 30 May 2022 , the Special Prosecutor directed the freezing of the estate of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (deceased), the former chief executive of the Forestry Commission. On 9 June 2022 the Special Prosecutor applied to the High Court for a confirmation of the freezing order. On 12 July 2022 the High Court presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, inexplicably dismissed the application,” the special prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said in a statement.
“The judge, with respect, totally misapprehended the application for confirmation of the freezing order and misdirected herself by characterising the application as that of a confiscation order, which regimes are governed by different consideration,” the statement added.
Below is the full statement:
Fred Dzakpata
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