ACCRA, April 18, 2025 — Lawyers for Daniel Owusu Koranteng, the prime suspect in the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, have criticised the prosecution for what they describe as deliberate delays intended to frustrate the judicial process.
In court on Thursday, April 17, prosecutors requested more time to present documents needed by the Attorney General’s office to prepare a formal indictment. Chief Inspector Nana Afua Bamfoa Bamfo also informed the court that a bail application had been denied by the Accra High Court.
However, defence counsel led by Kwaku Osei Asare expressed disappointment, arguing that the prosecution has failed to file essential disclosures since the case began.
“From March 18 when they first arraigned him with a provisional charge sheet, which they later amended on April 2 to include two counts, they have yet to prepare any documents for the Attorney General or for committal proceedings,” lawyer Kofi Essel added.
He called on the judiciary to expedite the process, especially given the severity of the murder and abetment charges.
“In other jurisdictions, such trials are resolved within months. If the accused is guilty, justice is served swiftly. If not, he deserves to be freed without further delay,” Essel said.
The amended charge sheet accuses Koranteng of not only committing murder, but also abetting the crime, by allegedly leading two unidentified accomplices to Ahmed Suale’s residence in the days leading up to the journalist’s assassination.
Presiding Judge Susan Nyarkotey expressed strong disapproval of the prosecution’s slow pace and ordered that all relevant documents be filed before the next adjourned date of May 13, when committal proceedings are expected to begin.
The defence insists that the prolonged remand of their client without significant prosecutorial progress raises serious concerns about fairness and due process.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. If the state has a case, let it proceed. Otherwise, this amounts to a prolonged violation of liberty,” Asare stated.
As the trial garners public attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the lingering demand for justice from press freedom advocates, the May 13 hearing is poised to be a pivotal moment in determining whether the case will finally move forward.
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