The Supreme Court has dismissed an application filed by Nana Appiah Mensah, widely known as NAM1, which sought to overturn earlier rulings by both the Court of Appeal and the High Court in his ongoing criminal trial.
NAM1 had previously asked the Court of Appeal to pause the High Court proceedings while his appeal against a High Court order directing him to open his defence was still pending.
The appellate court rejected the request, prompting him to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The High Court had, in 2024, ordered the former CEO of the defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited to open his defence in a case where he faces several charges, including selling gold without a licence, fraudulent breach of trust, defrauding by false pretence, and money laundering.
After this ruling, his lawyers appealed the decision and simultaneously applied for a stay of proceedings to halt the trial temporarily.
On May 19, 2025, state prosecutors urged the Court of Appeal to throw out NAM1’s stay application, arguing that it attempted to “overreach the powers of the court” and did not provide any exceptional reason to justify stopping the trial.
A three-member panel of Justice Gbiel Suurbaareh presiding, with Justices Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe and Christopher Archer, unanimously dismissed the request.
NAM1 then took the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the appellate court’s verdict.
However, on Wednesday, December 10, the Supreme Court also dismissed his application, upholding the order that he must open his defence.
Reacting to the ruling, Frederick Forson, spokesperson for the aggrieved Menzgold customers, said the decision brings them closer to justice.
“Our understanding is that the High Court trial can now proceed. Today, we were informed that the court will file its reasons on the 17th of this month. As previously directed, we will return to the High Court on the 16th, which is next week. We are very happy and grateful, even though the process has taken quite long,” he said.
