By: Alexander Afriyie
The High Court in Kumasi has acquitted and discharged Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Juaben Municipal Chief Executive in the Ashanti Region. Sarfo-Kantanka had been facing 26 counts of corruption related to a public election since May 2022.
The case stemmed from a viral video that appeared to show Sarfo-Kantanka demanding the return of monies he allegedly paid to assembly members to secure confirmation of his nomination. However, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori ruled that the video did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the payments were intended to influence the votes of the assembly members.
In her judgment, Justice Ofori held that the prosecution failed to establish a link between the payments and any alleged corrupt practices. As a result, the court acquitted and discharged Sarfo-Kantanka, clearing him of the corruption charges.