On 30th of July, 2024, the Court of Appeal of Ghana by a majority decision of 2 -1, acquitted and discharged the Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa in the trial popularly known as the Ambulance trial case. You can scroll down to download the full judgment, but I have also summarized it below for easy reading.   WHO ARE THE JUDGES  Majority Judges 1.      Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo J.A 2.      P. Bright Mensah J.A Minority (dissenting Judge) 1.      Alex Poku-Acheamong J.A. For you to understand, note that the two majority judges are the ones who agreed that Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa should be set free. The dissenting Judge disagreed that’s why he is characterized as minority or dissenting. This is normal in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and that is why they always have an odd number. You can read their independent detailed reasons in the full case when you click on the link at the end of this page.   SUMMARY OF CASE The two accused persons are am

  Whilst most crimes in Ghana are recorded in the Criminal and other offences Act of 1960, Act 29, a reader is not likely to find their corresponding punishments for these offences in that law. This makes it difficult for most people to know what kind of punishment awaits them when they are found to have committed an offence. Article 19(11) of the constitution (1992), makes it illegal for anyone to be punished for an offence whose punishment is not written. It says as follows; “No person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence is defined and the penalty for it is prescribed in a written law”.   Part VI of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1960, Act 30 provides for most punishments for crimes in Ghana. Most crimes found in other laws apart from Act 29 and Act 30 usually come with their punishments in those other laws and where there is no punishment, there will be words that will lead to the fact that the punishments can be found in Act 30.   For the purpose of

We cannot downplay the importance of land in any human endeavour. Various countries have set up various legal regimes to govern the acquisition and use of land and Ghana is not an exception. It is safe to say that Ghana’s laws on land have evolved over the years through our common experiences. These common experiences have found expression in our representatives who have put together the current principal legislation to govern land in Ghana known as the LAND ACT, 2020 (ACT 1036). For purposes of easy reference, I shall refer to this law as “ the Act ” or “ Act 1036 ” as we go on. The Act has put in place several measures to make land acquisition and use easy, safe and legitimate for all. In this article, I will touch on a few sections that I believe will relate to everyday transactions in relation to land purchase and use. TYPES OF INTERESTS IN LAND When you buy land, what do you get? Do you get the right to own it forever? Does the right to own land allow you to do anything you wish o

  I bought a piece of land before getting married. I registered it in my name and even started building on it before getting married. But upon marriage, my husband and I agreed that rent would not help us so he helped me to finish the building and we all moved in to live as husband and wife. Now our marriage is on the rocks, and we are getting a divorce. Why should the man who has treated me so badly get a share of this house which is registered in my personal name and not our joint names. Does it not belong to me alone? Can such a property be classified as a marital property? The above scenario and many more are questions that disturb the peace of many people about divorce. The question of “marital property” and how it should be shared. The Law in Ghana on distribution of marital property is very simple and complex at the same time. The law says EQUALITY IS EQUITY . The properties of the couple must be shared in such a way that every person would be equally and adequately catered for.