Adwoa Safo Demands High Court Trial in Shooting Case

Former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has formally petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to intervene in the criminal case stemming from an alleged shooting incident involving her, seeking its transfer from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.

The petition, dated June 25, 2026, and filed by her legal team led by Gary Nimako, contends that the Circuit Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to preside over the matter, arguing that the principal offence constitutes a first-degree felony which, by law, must be tried on indictment before the High Court.

According to the petition, the former legislator was allegedly shot multiple times on June 21, 2026, while seated in her Toyota Land Cruiser Prado outside the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who stands as the first accused in the case.

The petition states that Adwoa Safo sustained severe injuries to the left side of her face, the back of her head, her left ear, and lower jaw, with bullet fragments reportedly lodged in her skull. Investigators also documented visible gunshot damage to her vehicle.

“Respectfully, the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon is a first-degree felony and is triable on indictment before the High Court, not the Circuit Court,” the petition asserted. “The Circuit Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter, let alone consider an application for bail in respect of the accused persons.”

Her legal team further argued that it was “legally untenable” for the police to have arraigned the accused before the Adenta Circuit Court, maintaining that the court has no jurisdiction over the charges as currently framed.

Nine individuals, including the former MP’s brother, were arrested following the incident and subsequently granted bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties each.

They face charges including the use of offensive weapons, possession of explosives, firearms, and ammunition, participation in vigilante activities, discharge of firearms in a public place, and causing unlawful damage.

The petition requests the Attorney-General to call for the police docket, conduct a comprehensive review, and have the case refiled before the High Court to facilitate what her lawyers describe as a “full and expeditious trial.”

Copies of the petition have been forwarded to the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Presiding Judge of the Adenta Circuit Court, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, and the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander.