The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by Nana Appiah Mensah, the embattled Chief Executive Officer of defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited, seeking to halt his ongoing criminal trial at the High Court.
The decision, delivered on Monday, May 19, 2025, marks another legal setback for the businessman—popularly known as NAM1—who is facing multiple charges in connection with the collapse of Menzgold, a gold dealership company.
NAM1 and his two companies, Brew Marketing Consult and Menzgold Ghana Limited, are standing trial on 39 counts including operating a deposit-taking business without a license, unlawful gold trading, inducing investment under false pretences, defrauding by false pretences, money laundering, and fraudulent breach of trust. The alleged offences involve over GH₵340 million.
The Financial Division of the High Court had earlier ruled that a prima facie case had been established against him and ordered him to open his defence. Dissatisfied with this July 11, 2024 ruling, NAM1 filed a notice of appeal and subsequently sought a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.
His initial request for a stay at the High Court was rejected by the trial judge, Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaah. He then repeated the application at the Court of Appeal, asking it to suspend the High Court proceedings while the appeal was being considered.
However, the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel presided over by Justice Gbiel Suurbaareh, with Justices Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe and Christopher Archer concurring, found that the application lacked merit. The panel ruled that NAM1 had failed to demonstrate any exceptional grounds that would justify a suspension of the trial.
The court’s ruling clears the path for the High Court proceedings to continue, with the next hearing scheduled for May 28, 2025.
NAM1’s legal team, led by lawyer Kwame Boafo Akuffo, argued for the stay but was opposed by the prosecution, led by Watkins Adamah, who contended that the application was an attempt to delay justice.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Nana Appiah Mensah hinted at the possibility of further legal action.
“This is not the end. We still have the Supreme Court, and we’ll consider all the constitutional options available. I’ll consult with my lawyers on the next steps,” he said.
The High Court had earlier ruled that the prosecution, through nine witnesses, had presented sufficient evidence on 35 of the 39 charges, warranting a full defence from the accused. NAM1’s challenge to that ruling is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
Background
NAM1 pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of fresh charges and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with four sureties without justification.
