OSP Appeals Court Ruling Acquitting Juaben MCE Nominee in Bribery Case
Accra, June 26, 2025 — The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed an appeal against a High Court ruling in Kumasi that acquitted and discharged Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) nominee for Juaben in the Ashanti Region, over alleged bribery.
Sarfo-Kantanka was accused of attempting to influence assembly members with cash payments in exchange for votes to confirm his appointment. A 2021 viral video captured him angrily demanding refunds from those who voted against his confirmation, sparking public outrage.
The OSP subsequently charged him with 26 counts of corruption, including allegations that he paid GH¢5,000 to elected assembly members and GH¢2,500 to government appointees to sway the vote. Despite these accusations, the High Court acquitted Sarfo-Kantanka on May 26, 2025, citing insufficient evidence to prove the bribery beyond reasonable doubt.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the OSP criticised the ruling as being “inconsistent with the weight of the evidence”, arguing that the judge made errors in both legal reasoning and the assessment of facts presented at trial.
“The OSP believes justice was not served and has taken steps to challenge the decision at the appellate level,” the statement read.
Background
Sarfo-Kantanka, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Juaben Constituency Chairman, first faced public scrutiny after failing to secure enough votes in a confirmation election held on September 29, 2021. He was renominated two more times—on October 12 and November 1, 2021—but failed on each occasion.
The video evidence, central to the case, showed him angrily confronting assembly members and demanding repayment of monies allegedly distributed to secure their votes.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted bail in 2022 to the tune of GH¢90,000 with two sureties, one secured by landed property.
Despite his discharge, the Juaben municipality remains without a confirmed MCE, and the political impasse continues to affect local governance.
The appeal has been scheduled for case management on June 29, 2025.
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