Adwoa Safo petitions Attorney-General to move shooting case to High Court over jurisdiction concerns

Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to review and transfer a criminal case involving an alleged shooting incident from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.

In a petition dated June 25, 2026, her lawyers argued that the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case because the principal offence constitutes a first-degree felony, which they say is triable only at the High Court.

The accused persons, including the former MP, are facing charges including use of offensive weapons, possession of firearms and explosives, participation in vigilante activities, discharge of firearms in a public place, and causing unlawful damage.

According to the petition, the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon falls within the category of first-degree felonies and must therefore be tried on indictment before the High Court.

> “Respectfully, the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon is a first-degree felony and is triable on indictment before the High Court, not the Circuit Court,” the petition stated.

Her legal team further argued that the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction not only to try the case but also to entertain bail applications involving the accused persons.

The petition relates to an alleged shooting incident on June 21, 2026, in which Adwoa Safo was reportedly attacked while seated in her vehicle outside the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who is also among the accused persons.

She is said to have sustained injuries to her face, ear, jaw, and the back of her head, with claims that bullet fragments remain lodged in her skull. Her vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, was also reportedly damaged.

Following the incident, the former MP’s brother and eight others were arrested, arraigned before court, and granted bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties.

The petition is requesting the Attorney-General to call for the police docket, review the case, and have it refiled at the High Court to ensure what her lawyers describe as a full and expeditious trial.

This legal maneuver raises important questions about jurisdictional boundaries within Ghana’s court system. The distinction between Circuit Court and High Court jurisdiction is not merely procedural; it reflects the gravity of the alleged offences. First-degree felonies, which include murder and certain aggravated assaults, are reserved for the High Court due to their potential for severe penalties and the need for more elaborate trial procedures.

Critics might argue that shifting the case to the High Court could delay proceedings, given the Higher Court’s heavier caseload. However, the petitioners contend that a proper venue is essential for ensuring justice is both seen to be done and done correctly. The Circuit Court, designed for lesser offences, may lack the procedural safeguards necessary for a case of this magnitude.

The outcome of this petition could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly those involving public figures and allegations of serious criminal conduct, echoing the jurisdictional debates seen in recent cases such as the legal battle involving former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo (Torkornoo’s Legal Battle: Nine Cases Across Three Courts in Ghana). It also underscores the ongoing tension between the need for swift justice and the imperative of adhering to established legal hierarchies.

As the Attorney-General considers the request, the case highlights the broader challenges facing Ghana’s judiciary: balancing efficiency with fairness, and ensuring that legal technicalities do not obstruct the pursuit of justice. Whatever the decision, it will be watched closely by legal practitioners and the public alike, as it may influence confidence in the system’s ability to handle high-profile cases appropriately.

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