Office of Special Prosecutor clarifies trial in absentia conditions for Ken Ofori-Atta
via GhanaWeb1 min read
The Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP has addressed discussions regarding a trial in absentia for former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, stating that the legal requirements for such a proceeding have not yet been met. Sammy Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications at the OSP, explained that formal service of charges is incomplete. He clarified that a trial in absentia is initiated when a properly charged and notified individual refuses to appear in court, not merely upon the filing of charges. Darko emphasized that Article 193 of the Constitution requires "duly notified" status before a person can be tried in absentia, clarifying that this does not include social media, phone calls, or informing lawyers. While charges have been filed and court approval for service in the United States has been granted, the process is incomplete until official proof of service is returned. Once service is confirmed, the accused must still be given reasonable time to appear before further steps are considered. The OSP's stance highlights a meticulous adherence to constitutional procedures in this case.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
South Africa is set to play against Czechia in a critical Group A match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA, as part of the 2026 World Cup. Both teams require a victory to remain in the tournament following opening defeats. The article provides a livestream and live updates of the game, which is scheduled for June 18, 2026. This match is their second game in the tournament.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has stated his dissatisfaction with Ghana's fight against corruption, despite his years of exposing alleged wrongdoing. He emphasized that journalists and anti-corruption advocates will continue to expose wrongdoing until stronger accountability is achieved. Manasseh highlighted the importance of keeping issues in the public eye, even when state institutions fail to act, noting that informing the public is a form of progress. He believes sustained public scrutiny is one of the most effective tools for demanding accountability.
Must ReadNew research indicates that children vaccinated against HPV at ages 12-13 have a near-zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30. This landmark study, the first of its kind, reveals a sharp decline in deaths since school-aged girls in England began receiving the vaccine in 2008, saving approximately 200 lives to date. Between 2020 and 2024, no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24, a first for a five-year period. Professor Peter Sasieni, lead researcher at Queen Mary University of London, noted the vaccine's ability to almost eliminate a specific type of cancer. While cervical cancer remains the 14th most common cancer among females in the UK, with 3,300 diagnoses annually, HPV is believed to cause 99% of these cases. Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, called the findings an "incredible milestone" but highlighted that vaccination rates in England are below recommended levels. The UK government aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2040, but 2024-25 data shows only 76% of girls in England were vaccinated by age 15, short of the World Health Organization's 90% target. Boys have also received the HPV vaccine since 2019 to protect against various cancers and reduce virus transmission. The Department of Health and Social Care in England acknowledged the vaccine's "extraordinary impact" and is working to boost uptake.