The Supreme Court has dismissed an application filed by Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM1, seeking to overturn decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the High Court in his ongoing criminal trial.
The decision follows an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which rejected NAM1’s application to stay proceedings at the High Court. His legal team had asked the appellate court to halt the trial pending the determination of an appeal challenging a High Court order directing him to open his defence.
In 2024, the High Court ordered the Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited to open his defence in a criminal case in which he faces multiple charges, including selling gold without a licence, fraudulent breach of trust, defrauding by false pretence, and money laundering.
Following the High Court’s ruling, NAM1’s lawyers filed an appeal seeking to overturn the directive and, at the same time, applied for a stay of proceedings.
On Monday, May 19, 2025, state prosecutors urged the Court of Appeal to dismiss the stay application, arguing that it sought to overreach the powers of the court and failed to establish any exceptional circumstances to justify halting the trial.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Gbiel Suurbaareh, with Justices Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe and Christopher Archer, unanimously dismissed the application.
NAM1 subsequently turned to the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court’s decision. However, on Wednesday, December 10, the Apex Court dismissed his application, affirming that he must open his defence as directed by the High Court.
Meanwhile, Frederick Forson, spokesperson for aggrieved Menzgold customers, welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling, describing it as an important step toward justice.
“Our understanding is that the High Court trial can now proceed. We have also been told that the court will file its reasons on the 17th of this month. As earlier directed, we will return to the High Court on the 16th, which is next week. We are very happy, even though the process has taken long,” he said.
