Adwoa Safo seeks High Court trial in alleged shooting case

Former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has petitioned the Attorney-General to transfer her alleged shooting case from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.

The petition, dated June 25, 2026, argues that the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction because the principal offence before the court is a first-degree felony, which can only be tried on indictment by the High Court.

The application follows a shooting incident on June 21 in Kwabenya, where Adwoa Safo was allegedly attacked while seated in her vehicle outside the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, during heightened tensions surrounding the Kristo Asafo succession dispute.

According to her lawyers, she sustained injuries to the left side of her face, the back of her head, her left ear and lower jaw, with bullet fragments lodged in her skull. They also said her Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was riddled with bullet holes.

Hours after the incident, the Ghana Police Service arrested six private security guards in connection with the shooting.

Police said officers responding to a distress call found that a ceremony was taking place at the residence when Adwoa Safo reportedly arrived and sought entry but was denied access.

Investigators alleged that armed security personnel stationed at the property discharged firearms, leaving the former MP injured and her vehicle bearing multiple gunshot marks.

A search also led to the retrieval of five pump-action guns, a Taurus pistol, ammunition and communication equipment.

Police later arraigned Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena and eight others before the Adenta Circuit Court.

They were granted bail of GH¢500,000 each with two sureties after being charged with the use of an offensive weapon, possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition, use of vigilante groups and activities, discharging firearms in town, and causing unlawful damage.

In the petition, Adwoa Safo’s lawyers contend that the charge of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon is a first-degree felony and cannot be tried by the Circuit 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.

The lawyers further argued that the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the case or determine bail applications involving the accused persons.

They have therefore asked the Attorney-General to call for the police docket, review the matter and refile it before the High Court to facilitate what they described as a full and expeditious trial.

Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Deputy Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Presiding Judge of the Adenta Circuit Court, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander and Sarah Adwoa