The Supreme Court has dismissed an application filed by Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM 1, which sought to overturn earlier decisions by the High Court and the Court of Appeal in his ongoing criminal trial.
The ruling clears the way for the case to proceed without further delay.
NAM 1, the former Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited, is standing trial on several charges, including operating a gold dealership without a licence, fraudulent breach of trust, defrauding by false pretence, and money laundering.
In 2024, the High Court ordered him to open his defence which he has consistently attempted to challenge through various appellate processes.
His legal team previously petitioned the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings at the High Court pending the determination of their appeal against that directive.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the request, holding that no exceptional circumstances had been demonstrated to justify pausing the trial. Prosecutors maintained that the application sought to “overreach the powers of the court.”
A three-member appellate panel, comprising Justice Gbiel Suurbaareh (presiding), Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, and Justice Christopher Archer, unanimously threw out the stay-of-proceedings application.
Unsatisfied with that outcome, NAM 1 subsequently moved to the Supreme Court, urging it to set aside the appellate court’s decision.
On Wednesday, December 10, the Supreme Court rejected his application, thereby affirming the High Court’s directive that he must open his defence.
The decision paves the way for the continuation of the high-profile trial, which has drawn significant national interest.