Adwoa Safo petitions Attorney General to transfer brother's shooting case to High Court

Former Dome Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has petitioned the Attorney General to transfer the criminal case involving her younger brother and eight others over the shooting incident that left her seriously injured from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.

The petition, filed through her lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, argues that the Circuit Court lacks the legal jurisdiction to hear the case because of the nature of the charges brought against the accused persons.

Adwoa Safo survived the shooting during an incident at her younger brother's residence on June 21. The attack, which was widely circulated on social media, fuelled public speculation about divisions within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka.

She is reported to have undergone two surgeries at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra and may require additional medical treatment abroad.

Police subsequently arrested her younger brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, along with eight others in connection with the shooting.

The nine accused persons have been charged with multiple offences, including the use and possession of offensive weapons, engaging in prohibited vigilante activities, unlawful discharge of firearms in public, and causing unlawful damage.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they appeared before the Adenta Circuit Court and were each granted bail of GH¢500,000 with two sureties. They are expected to reappear before the court on September 30 while investigations continue.

The accused are Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, Tamaklo Safo Jehosaphat, Kwabena Safo, Benjamin Amoakwa Sam, Enock Badu, Richard Ayitey, Gideon Safo, Nana Kwaku Afriyie and Kwadwo Safo Koomson.

According to police investigations, seven of the accused are alleged to be personal bodyguards of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena.

In the petition dated June 25, 2026, Adwoa Safo's lawyer argued that the injuries she sustained, including gunshot wounds to the left side of her face, the back of her head, her left ear and lower jaw, together with bullet fragments lodged in her skull, point to an offence that constitutes a first degree felony.

The petition also stated that investigators found visible bullet marks on the former legislator's vehicle.

According to the lawyer, the charge of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon is triable only by the High Court and not by a Circuit Court.

“Respectfully, the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with use of offensive weapon is a first degree felony and is triable on indictment before the High Court, not the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter, let alone consider an application for bail in respect of the accused persons,” the petition stated.

Mr. Nimako Marfo further argued that it was legally improper for the police to arraign the accused before a court that lacked jurisdiction over the alleged offence.

He is therefore urging the Attorney General to call for the case docket, review the matter and have it refiled before the High Court to ensure a full trial is conducted without delay.