A ruling by the High Court in Kumasi, which acquitted and discharged Alexander Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka, 2021 nominee for Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Juaben, Ashanti Region, is being challenged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

In a post on the X platform on Wednesday, June 25, the OSP argued that "the judgment is inconsistent with the weight of the evidence and that the trial judge erred on key legal and factual issues".

According to the OSP, "justice was not served and has taken steps to challenge the decision at the appellate level".

In 2022, the OSP leveled 26 counts of corruption against Alexander Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka under the Akufo-Addo-led government, following a viral video of him demanding money he had given to assembly members to gain approval for his nomination.

Sarfo Kantanka 's demand came after failing to secure the needed votes to become the MCE for the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the after two rounds of voting in September and November.

The OSP's charges were in respect of a public election contrary to Section 256 (1)(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as amended by Section 9 of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1034) by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

The suspect allegedly gave the elected members of the assem­bly GH¢5000 each and gave GH¢2,500 to each of the govern­ment appointees.

The trial commenced at the Kumasi High Court on 20 October. The following year in July, the OSP closed its case. Four months later, the then-accused filed a Submission of No Case.On November 29, the OSP filed a written response to the Submission of No Case by the accused. The court on April 9, 2024, dismissed the Submission of No Case.This prompted Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal and concurrently file for a stay of proceedings at the Kumasi High Court, but both failed.

The trial judgment was delivered on May 26, which was initially ready for delivery in November 2024 after the presiding judge was transferred.

The Republic vs. Alexander Sarfo Kantanka legal tussle that spanned 2 years and 11 months came to an end with the latter emerging victorious.

The court ruled that the video evidence does not show that he gave money to influence assembly members.