Adwoa Safo petitions Attorney-General over High Court transfer

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Former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has petitioned Ghana’s Attorney-General to transfer the criminal case arising from an alleged shooting incident to the High Court, arguing through her lawyers that the principal charge falls outside the jurisdiction of the Adenta Circuit Court.

ACCRA, Ghana — Former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo has petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to transfer the criminal case arising from an alleged shooting incident involving her from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court, arguing that the principal offence should be tried by a higher court.

The petition, dated 25 June 2026, was filed by her legal representatives following criminal proceedings against nine accused persons, including her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, after an incident that allegedly occurred on 21 June outside his residence.

According to the petition, Adwoa Safo was seated in her vehicle when she was allegedly attacked. Her lawyers say she sustained injuries to the left side of her face, ear, jaw and the back of her head and claim fragments from bullets remain lodged in her skull. They also state that her Toyota Land Cruiser Prado sustained visible damage. Those claims have been presented in the petition and have not yet been tested in court.

The accused persons have been charged with offences including the use of offensive weapons, possession of firearms and explosives, participation in vigilante activities, discharging firearms in a public place and causing unlawful damage. They have been granted bail of GH¢500,000 each with two sureties, and the criminal proceedings remain before the Adenta Circuit Court.

Jurisdiction at the centre of the petition

The central issue raised by Adwoa Safo’s legal team is jurisdiction, rather than the merits of the criminal allegations.

Her lawyers contend that the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with an offensive weapon constitutes a first-degree felony, which they argue is triable only on indictment before the High Court under Ghanaian law. On that basis, they maintain that the Adenta Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the principal charge or determine bail applications involving the accused persons.

The petition requests the Attorney-General to obtain the police docket, review the charges and direct that the case be refiled before the High Court to facilitate what the lawyers describe as a full and expeditious trial. No decision on the request had been announced by the Attorney-General at the time of publication.

Understanding the legal question

Under Ghana’s criminal justice system, different courts exercise jurisdiction over different categories of criminal offences.

Circuit Courts hear many criminal matters, while offences classified by law as indictable first-degree felonies are generally tried before the High Court. Whether the charges in this case should proceed in the Circuit Court or be transferred to the High Court will ultimately depend on the applicable law and any decision taken by the Attorney-General or the courts. The petition represents the legal arguments advanced by Adwoa Safo’s defence team and does not itself determine the appropriate forum for trial.

Kantanka Security personnel and seized firearms displayed during investigation

Background to the case

The alleged shooting incident occurred on 21 June 2026 outside the residence of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena. Following police investigations, nine people were arrested and subsequently arraigned before the Adenta Circuit Court. The accused persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The criminal proceedings remain ongoing.

Why this matters

The petition raises an important procedural question within Ghana’s criminal justice system concerning which courts have authority to hear particular categories of criminal offences.

Legal experts note that disputes over jurisdiction can significantly influence how criminal proceedings are conducted, although they do not determine whether any accused person is guilty or innocent.

The Attorney-General’s response may therefore shape the next procedural stage of the case without prejudging its eventual outcome.

Key Points

Sarah Adwoa Safo has petitioned the Attorney-General.
Her lawyers want the case transferred to the High Court.
They argue the principal charge is a first-degree felony.
Nine accused persons remain on bail.
No decision has yet been announced by the Attorney-General.

Timeline

21 June 2026

Alleged shooting incident reported outside Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena’s residence.

Late June 2026

Nine accused persons arrested, charged and granted bail.

25 June 2026

Adwoa Safo’s lawyers file a petition to the Attorney-General.

28 June 2026

Petition becomes public through multiple media reports.

Why this matters legally

The petition could clarify how Ghana’s courts handle cases involving alleged first-degree felonies and reinforce the importance of jurisdictional rules in criminal proceedings.

Whatever decision is taken, it will concern the proper forum for hearing the case rather than the guilt or innocence of the accused.