Joy Prime to Examine Legal Vacation Controversy and AKSA Bribery Saga on Prime Insight

Key Takeaways

• The legal vacation controversy and the AKSA bribery saga will be dissected on Joy Prime's Prime Insight programme.
• The discussion will examine the disagreement over whether courts can continue substantive proceedings during the legal vacation.
• The panel will also focus on the US$1 million AKSA bribery case and the need for investigations in Ghana.
• The programme will bring together political and legal voices to examine the issues and their wider implications for Ghana's justice system and anti-corruption efforts.

The controversy over trials during the legal vacation and the fallout from the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States will be on the table for dissection on Joy Prime's Prime Insight programme.

The programme, scheduled for 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, will be hosted by Blessed Sogah and will bring together political and legal voices to examine the issues and their wider implications for Ghana's justice system and anti-corruption efforts.

Background & Context

The controversy over trials during the legal vacation has generated considerable public debate, involving the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Judicial Service.

The disagreement surrounds the authority of judges assigned to sit during the vacation and the extent to which lawyers are expected to participate in proceedings during the period.

Key Findings

The Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai, has rejected the GBA's position, describing it as a misunderstanding of the law and arguing that vacation courts are authorised to hear cases during the period.

The discussion is expected to examine the legal framework governing the vacation, the responsibilities of judges and lawyers, and the potential implications of the disagreement for the administration of justice.

Broad Implications

The programme will also focus on the US$1 million AKSA bribery case, following the conviction of former Goldman Sachs executive and former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) boss Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States.

A federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, convicted Berko on August 6, 2026, in connection with a bribery scheme involving Ghanaian officials and a power plant project linked to Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S.

Looking Ahead

The programme's discussion is expected to examine what is known about the case, the need for investigations in Ghana and questions about the country's ability to detect and prosecute cross-border corruption.

The panel will feature Solomon Owusu, Director of Communications of the United Party; Julius Kwame Anthony, Press Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior; Ross Osei Owusu, a member of the NPP Legal Directorate; and Ivan Kyei Innocent, a youth activist.