The High Court in Kumasi has acquitted and discharged Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, former President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Juaben Municipal Chief Executive in the Ashanti Region, bringing to a close a high-profile corruption trial that spanned nearly three years.
Sarfo-Kantanka had faced 26 counts of corruption-related charges linked to a public election, following allegations that he attempted to bribe assembly members to secure his confirmation as Municipal Chief Executive.
The case, initiated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in May 2022, centered on a viral video in which Sarfo-Kantanka was seen demanding a refund of money he allegedly paid to assembly members after failing to secure their approval.
The trial, which began in earnest on October 20, 2022, saw extensive legal arguments and the admission of the contentious video as evidence.
The OSP’s case rested on claims that Sarfo-Kantanka had given GH¢5,000 each to elected assembly members and GH¢2,500 to government appointees in an attempt to influence the outcome of his confirmation vote.
Despite the video evidence, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, in her final judgment, ruled that the footage did not conclusively prove that the payments were intended to sway the votes of the assembly members.
Although the video showed Sarfo-Kantanka demanding funds from those involved in his election, it fell short of establishing a direct link to corrupt intent.
The case attracted widespread attention after Sarfo-Kantanka failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in two rounds of voting in September and November 2021.
Following his repeated rejection, a video emerged online in which he was captured angrily demanding the return of money he claimed to have given to assembly members, an act that led to his arrest and subsequent bail.
The legal proceedings saw several twists, including the transfer of the presiding judge just before judgment was due to be delivered in late 2024. The new judge required additional time to review the case, leading to further delays.
In court, the defense argued that the money was not a bribe but a gift, and that there was no clear evidence of corrupt intent. The prosecution, however, maintained that the payments were made to influence the assembly’s decision.
With the acquittal, Sarfo-Kantanka walks free, his name cleared of all corruption charges.
The OSP, in a statement, confirmed the court’s decision and acknowledged that the video evidence did not meet the threshold required for a conviction.
Source :www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
