High Court Refuses to Stay Execution of Ruling Halting OSP Prosecutions
The High Court, General Jurisdiction 10, presided over by Justice Eugene John Nyante Nyadu, has today refused to stay execution of its ruling that halted prosecutions by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, OSP.
The decision means the OSP’s prosecutions remain on hold until a higher court makes further orders.
Following the High Court’s refusal, the OSP said it will immediately repeat the application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.
The move is aimed at suspending the effect of the High Court ruling while the substantive legal challenges are heard.
Background
The High Court (General Jurisdiction 10) has stripped the prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), labelling it void.
It comes after the accused persons in the case of Republic v. Issah Seidu & 3 Others (Suit No. CR/0513/2025), widely referred to as the “rice scandal case”, initiated an action at the Court challenging the independent prosecutorial power of the OSP.
This action was in spite of a pending challenge before the Supreme Court initiated by both the plaintiff and the Attorney-General.
On April 14, 2026, the General Jurisdiction judge declined an application by the OSP to adjourn proceedings pending the outcome of the matter before the Supreme Court and ruled that the OSP lacks an independent prosecutorial mandate.
The judge further directed that the case and all other cases under the authority of the OSP be referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
