KWABENA BERCHIE V. THE REPUBLIC

JUDGMENT ON CRIMINAL APPEAL

The court at its sitting on Thursday 29 July 2021 upheld the criminal appeal and reduced the 15-year sentence the Circuit Court, Kumasi imposed on the appellant to seven (7) years. The court stated that the reasons underlying its decision shall be made available at the registry within a week. These are the reasons underlying the court’s decision that partly upheld the appeal.

The appeal was considered pursuant to leave of the court upon application under s. 326 of Act 30 for extension of time to appeal against the judgment of the Circuit Court, Kumasi dated 26 March 2014. Further to this, I deem it relevant to put it on record at the outset that the appeal was considered and tried here in Ho on the directive of the Hon. Chief Justice per a letter endorsed by his hand and signature dated 6 May 2021 pursuant to s. 21(4) and s.104, Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459) authorizing the court to assume jurisdiction and to hear the appeal though the appellant was tried and se…