The High Court has dismissed an oral application by lawyers for Gifty Oware Aboagye Mensah seeking to stay proceedings in the ongoing National Service Scheme (NSS) scandal trial.

The application was made on Monday, 11 May 2026, at the Criminal Division 4 of the High Court, where the case had been scheduled for the first prosecution witness to testify.

Before proceedings could advance, defence counsel Gary Nimako Marfo informed the court that an application had been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of part of a 2018 practice direction issued by the Chief Justice.

He explained that the challenge relates to an earlier directive requiring the accused to file the names and addresses of defence witnesses.

Counsel further indicated that an application for stay of proceedings had been filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, 8 May 2026, and claimed it had been served on both the Attorney-General and the Registrar of the High Court.

On that basis, the defence urged the court to suspend proceedings pending the determination of the Supreme Court application.

However, the trial judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, noted that there was no official proof before the court confirming that the application had been served on the Registrar.

She therefore directed the court clerk to verify the position with the Registry. The clerk later reported that no such process had been received.

The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the mere filing of a case at the Supreme Court does not automatically halt proceedings at the High Court.

After considering the submissions, Justice Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the court could not be restrained solely on the basis of a filed application, adding that proceedings would only be stayed if the Supreme Court specifically so ordered.

The court subsequently directed that the trial should continue.

The case has been adjourned to Monday, 18 May 2026, when the prosecution is expected to resume its presentation of evidence-in-chief.