Lawyers representing former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Hon Sarah Adwoa Safo, have petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to immediately transfer a criminal case involving an alleged attempt on her life from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.
The petition, dated 25th June 2026, and officially received by the Attorney-General’s office on 26th June 2026, argues that the Circuit Court lacks the legal jurisdiction to try the first-degree felony charges leveled against the accused persons.
The primary accused individual in the case, titled Republic v. Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena & 8 Others, is the victim’s own brother.
The Incident and Injuries
According to the official petition, the incident occurred on 21st June 2026.
Hon Sarah Adwoa Safo was reportedly shot at multiple times while sitting inside her Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
The attack took place directly in front of the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who has since been arrested alongside eight others.
As a result of the ambush, Adwoa Safo sustained severe, life-threatening injuries.
The petition notes that she suffered major trauma to the left side of her face, the back of her head, her left ear, and her lower jaw.
Medical assessments also revealed traces of bullets remaining lodged within her skull.
The Jurisdictional Argument
The core of the legal challenge rests on where the case is currently being prosecuted.
Legal practitioners from Marfo & Associates, led by Gary Nimako Marfo Esq., stated that the police incorrectly arraigned the nine accused persons before the Adenta Circuit Court.
The defense firm maintains that intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with an offensive weapon constitutes a first-degree felony under Section 70 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Under Ghanaian law, first-degree felonies are triable exclusively on indictment before the High Court.
Consequently, the lawyers argue that the Circuit Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case or to consider any applications for bail.
Criminal Charges Levelled
As outlined in the petition, the state has brought five distinct counts against Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena and his co-accused.
These include Count One for the use of an offensive weapon contrary to Section 70 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and Count Two for the possession of explosives, firearms, and ammunition contrary to Section 192 of the same Act.
Additionally, the accused face Count Three for the use of vigilante groups and activities contrary to Section 3(5) of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), Count Four for discharging guns in town contrary to Section 209 of Act 29, and Count Five for causing unlawful damage contrary to Section 175 (1)(A) of Act 29.
Next Steps
The petition formally requests that the Attorney-General call for the case docket, review the current proceedings, and ensure the matter is filed swiftly at the High Court to facilitate a full and proper trial.
Copies of the petition have been forwarded to several high-ranking state officials, including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and the Presiding Judge of the Adenta Circuit Court.
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