By: Kwame Bediako
The Supreme Court of Ghana has delivered a landmark victory to former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan by annulling garnishee proceedings initiated by the High Court in Accra concerning a GH₵1 million judgment debt.
In a unanimous ruling, a five-member panel led by Justice Amadu Omoro Tanko declared that the ex parte orders against Gyan were wrongful and must be quashed.
The decision effectively suspends enforcement actions on Gyan’s bank accounts pending further legal review. Earlier, the High Court had ordered seven major banks, including CBG, Ecobank, Zenith, GT Bank, Access, GCB, and Stanbic to explain why funds in Gyan’s accounts should not be used to settle the GH₵1,061,000 debt owed to journalist Anthony Osarfo.
This directive stemmed from a November 2024 order by Justice Owusu Dapaa, which was issued despite ongoing appeals and a pending application for a stay of execution in higher courts.
Gyan’s legal team, led by prominent lawyer Bobby Banson, challenged the garnishee order at the Supreme Court, citing procedural irregularities and violation of fair hearing rights.
The apex court agreed with these arguments, halting all collection efforts until the Court of Appeal considers the substantive issues in the case.
This ruling provides a crucial legal shield to Gyan and his associates during the contentious dispute. The background of the case involves a malicious prosecution claim filed by journalist Anthony Osarfo.
After being acquitted in a high-profile alleged rape case involving Gyan, Osarfo sued for damages. In December 2023, Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa awarded Osarfo GH₵900,000 in damages, GH₵111,000 for lost income, and GH₵60,000 in legal costs, bringing the total judgment to over GH₵1 million.
As the legal battle continues, the Supreme Court’s intervention grants Asamoah Gyan temporary relief from enforcement actions linked to the judgment.
Both Gyan and his manager await the Court of Appeal’s decision while benefiting from the apex court’s ruling that safeguards their financial interests during the ongoing litigation.
