The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application filed by Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM1, seeking to halt proceedings in his ongoing criminal trial involving the defunct gold dealership firm, Menzgold Ghana Limited.
The embattled Chief Executive Officer had petitioned the appellate court to stay proceedings at the High Court, where he is currently facing multiple criminal charges. These include defrauding by false pretence, money laundering, operating a gold dealership without a license, and fraudulent breach of trust. NAM1 filed the application in tandem with an appeal challenging a 2024 High Court ruling that ordered him to open his defence.
His legal team argued that continuing the trial while the appeal was pending would prejudice the outcome and urged the court to suspend proceedings until the appeal was resolved. However, state prosecutors strongly opposed the move, insisting the request lacked merit and failed to establish any exceptional circumstances warranting a stay of proceedings.
On Monday, May 19, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal—presided over by Justice Gbiel Suurbaareh, with Justices Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe and Christopher Archer concurring—unanimously dismissed the application.
Reacting to the ruling, Frederick Forson, spokesperson for the aggrieved customers of Menzgold, welcomed the decision as a step forward in the long quest for justice.
“We see this as a positive development,” Forson said. “For many victims who lost their life savings, it is encouraging to see that the legal process is progressing without delay.”
NAM1, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, has indicated that he is considering appealing the decision to the Supreme Court after consultations with his legal counsel.
