An Accra High Court has dismissed an application by the Special Prosecutor to freeze the assets of late CEO of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John.
Office of the Special Prosecutor requested the freezing order to facilitate an investigation into the acquisition of state lands belonging to the deceased.
A supposed will of Sir John indicated that the late Forestry Commission CEO owned portions of the Achimota forest reserve, Sakumono Ramsar site, and accordingly bequeathed them to some individuals.
Kissi Agyebeng, Special Prosecutor, subsequently directed the freezing of Sir John’s estate and applied to the High Court for a confirmation of the freezing order which was dismissed by Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe on Tuesday, July 12.
But Special Prosecutor in a statement said the Judge misunderstood the application as a confiscation order and has thus decided to appeal the ruling.
“The judge, with respect, totally misapprehended the application for confirmation of the freezing order and misdirected herself by characterising the application as that of a confiscation order, which regimes are governed by different considerations.”
The statement said, “if this decision is left to stand, the Republic will lose the fight against corruption in unimaginable ways.”
It added that investigations into Sir John’s estate will still proceed.
