OSP petitions CJ to remove Justice Twum from Cecilia Dapaah case

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has submitted a formal request to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, seeking the removal of Justice Edward Twum from his role as the presiding Judge overseeing the confirmation application concerning the seizure and freezing of assets belonging to former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.

The anti-corruption body is scheduled to move its application for the court to approve its decision to seize some 2.8 million cedis and 590,000 dollars found in the home of Cecilia Dapaah and the freezing of her bank accounts on suspicion of being tainted properties.

The development follows a recent court decision to grant a request made by Cecilia Dapaah’s legal team to expedite the confirmation hearing, advancing the initial date of October 18.

However, the attorneys representing the Office of the Special Prosecutor contend that Justice Edward Twum’s impartiality is questionable, thus rendering him unsuitable to preside over the proceedings.

The request is grounded on the OSP’s belief that Justice Edward Twum appears to be highly prejudiced against the OSP and the person of the Special Prosecutor.

Consequently, as it stands, the OSP would not and cannot be reasonably expected to be parties to proceedings before the said judge.