Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has expressed strong disapproval of the High Court judge's ruling, which ordered a complete restart of Stephen Opuni's trial.

Following the Court of Appeal's decision to overturn the High Court's ruling, Mr. Dame criticized the judge's decision, deeming it as erroneous and regressive in nature.

“I think that it is actually backward with all respect for a trial which has advanced to this stage for an order to be made that we should start de novo. It will amount to giving the evidence twice, it will amount to giving parties of the matter a second bite of the cherry, and I think that it is improper,” Mr Dame told Journalists on Monday, July 3.

The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision of the trial judge and directed that the proceedings and evidence led under the previous judge, Justice Hornyenugah, be adopted instead.

Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, who took over the case in March 2023, had ordered a restart of the trial, citing concerns of unfairness and the need to restore trust in the process. However, Attorney General Godfred Dame disagreed and filed an appeal, arguing that it was a miscarriage of justice.

The appellate court agreed with the appeal, stating that the trial judge had made an error by considering irrelevant factors in ordering a fresh trial.

Attorney General Godfred Dame expressed satisfaction with the court's decision in a media interview following the proceedings.

In a separate development, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah has been asked to vacate his position and move to Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, according to a letter allegedly sent to him by Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo in June. Justice Aboagye Tandoh of the Winneba High Court will replace Justice Gyimah as the presiding judge in the case.

The case involves allegations that Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD, and businessman Seidu Agongo caused a financial loss of over GH¢217 million to the state.