Private legal practitioner Maurice Ampaw has questioned an Accra High Court order stating that former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, should cross-examine a prosecution witness themselves if their lawyers fail to appear at the next sitting.

Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga issued the order on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after lead defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea and his team failed to appear in court.

The judge said the accused persons would have to conduct the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness if they remain without legal representation at the next hearing.

'You will cross-examine witness if your lawyer fails to appear' – Judge to Adu-Boahene, wife

But Ampaw, in an exclusive GhanaWeb interview on August 11, 2026, said the court should not rush the accused persons into proceeding without their lawyers, especially when the defence has raised concerns about court sittings during the legal vacation.

“I think that the judge in that matter must tread cautiously because he's there to serve justice. It's not the fault of the accused person,” he said.

Ampaw said the accused persons’ lawyers had written to the court, the Chief Justice, and the Ghana Bar Association explaining why they needed to rest during the legal vacation.

“So don't stampede, bully, and threaten the accused person that if their lawyer doesn't come, they’ll proceed. You violate the rights of the accused person,” he cautioned.

Ampaw further questioned why the accused persons should be given only six days to make alternative arrangements for their defence.

“Granted that the accused person even wants to change his counsel, do you have to give the accused person six days? You don't do that,” he asked.

He also argued that the accused persons could not effectively conduct case management without access to the case docket, which he said was with their lawyers.

“You can't compel the accused person to do case management. Do you know that the accused person doesn't have the case docket? It is with the lawyer so if he comes to court and you compel him that he should, he will just be standing there,” he noted.

Ampaw further warned that proceeding in the absence of defence counsel could raise questions about the accused persons’ right to a fair hearing.

“Look, the accused person standing trial’s liberty is at stake. He can go to prison for about 15 or 20 years. The same constitution, under Article 12, says that every accused person has the right to be given ample and reasonable time to prepare their defense, so why the rush?” he argued.

Maurice Ampaw criticises Chief Justice over legal vacation comments

Adu Boahene, his wife and two other accused persons are standing trial on 11 counts, including conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, using public office for profit, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.

They have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail.

MAG/VPO

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