Sarah Adwoa Safo Petitions Attorney-General to Transfer Shooting Case to High Court Over Jurisdictional Concerns

Sarah Adwoa Safo, the former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, has officially petitioned the Attorney-General to transfer a criminal case involving a violent shooting incident from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court. The petition, filed on June 25, 2026, argues that the Circuit Court lacks the necessary legal jurisdiction to hear the matter because the principal charges constitute first-degree felonies. This legal move follows a significant encounter on June 21, 2026, during which Safo sustained serious injuries after being reportedly attacked while in her vehicle outside her brother's residence.

The case centers on the events of that June evening, where Safo was allegedly shot multiple times, resulting in severe physical harm and damage to her vehicle. Her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, along with eight others, was subsequently arrested and charged with various offenses, including the use of offensive weapons, unlawful possession of firearms, and causing unlawful damage. Safo’s legal team emphasizes that the gravity of these charges necessitates a trial by indictment, a procedure that under Ghanaian law must be conducted within the High Court to ensure a proper and thorough resolution.

In the petition, Safo’s lawyers contend that the Adenta Circuit Court’s current handling of the case, including the granting of bail to the accused, is procedurally and legally flawed. They argue that because the court does not have the mandate to try first-degree felonies, its decisions regarding bail—recently set at GH"500,000 for the accused—are incorrect. The legal team is calling for the Attorney-General to review the police docket and refile the charges at the High Court, asserting that a transfer is essential for a fair and expedited trial that aligns with constitutional standards.

This development adds a new layer of legal complexity to a high-profile case involving one of Ghana’s prominent former legislators. By seeking this transfer, Safo and her counsel are pushing for a more rigorous judicial review of the circumstances that led to her hospitalization and the subsequent arrests. As the Attorney-General considers the petition, the outcome will likely determine the venue and pace of the trial, setting a potential precedent for how first-degree felony cases are managed within the Ghanaian judicial system.