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Oliver Barker-Vormawor questions public outrage over Thomas Partey's visa denial
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Private legal practitioner and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has criticized the public's outrage regarding Canada's decision to deny Ghanaian footballer Thomas Partey a temporary residence visa for a tournament. This denial occurred amid Partey's ongoing criminal case in the UK. In a social media post on June 14, 2026, Barker-Vormawor highlighted that Partey is facing seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, yet is on bail and could still attend a World Cup. He pointed out what he perceives as contradictions in public expectations and the legal framework, criticizing Ghana鈥檚 criminal justice system. Barker-Vormawor argued that public attitudes often reinforce overly restrictive approaches to bail and pre-trial liberty in Ghana, where suspects granted bail may face strict reporting conditions for years before a trial begins. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the UK, which stem from allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. The Ghanaian government has urged Canada to review its decision. Ghana is scheduled to play Panama in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
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Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu argues that Ghana should prioritize the recovery of misappropriated state funds over jailing individuals involved in corruption. Speaking on June 13, 2026, Kpebu stated that recovered public resources could be used for critical sectors like healthcare and infrastructure, citing the need for beds in hospitals and the unopened Afariwa Hospital. He believes that recovering funds, possibly with interest, would save more lives than imprisonment. While acknowledging concerns about weakening deterrence, Kpebu maintained that public stigma and reputational damage serve as significant punishment, affecting offenders and their families. He emphasized that societal attitudes towards criminal allegations have lasting consequences. Kpebu asserted that recovering funds without prison sentences provides sufficient deterrence, citing past high-profile cases where lost funds were partially recovered. He noted that plea bargaining is a recognized legal mechanism in Ghana and other jurisdictions, suggesting that "half a loaf is always better than none" given the Ghanaian system's weaknesses. He urged policymakers and prosecutors to focus on maximizing fund recovery while holding offenders publicly accountable.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has reportedly resigned from the Council of State, the country's highest presidential advisory body. According to a report, her resignation was submitted in 2025, and she has not attended any Council meetings since. Neither Akuffo nor the Presidency has officially commented on the matter, and the reasons for her departure are unknown. This reported resignation follows public scrutiny related to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. In April 2025, Akuffo was the only Council member to abstain from a vote on whether a prima facie case had been established against Torkornoo. Akuffo later testified in Torkornoo's defense before the Article 146 committee and publicly criticized the proceedings, stating Torkornoo had not received a fair hearing. Akuffo served on the Supreme Court for over two decades before becoming Ghana's 13th Chief Justice in 2017. Her tenure on the Council of State also drew attention in 2023 when she joined pensioners protesting the government's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
Ghana's Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the death of Innocentia Avinu, a Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast UCC. Her body was discovered at a beach in Cape Coast. The Ministry of Education released a statement on June 14, 2026, instructing UCC management to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service to determine the circumstances of her death. The Ministry expressed profound sadness over the incident and offered condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and the university community. The public has been urged to allow the investigation to proceed without interference. Innocentia Avinu was last seen on June 11, 2026, at the Ayensu Plaza Hostel on the UCC campus before her body was found washed ashore near Hutchland Beach Resort.