2025 in focus: Top legal news items on DL news
By DL News
Published
Updated
5 min read
In 2025, as in previous years, numerous legal stories dominated headlines across the country. However, based on editorial discretion, audience engagement metrics on our website, and sustained reader interest, we present the following storie...
Supreme Court Upheld GH¢9,000 Dog-Attack Damages Against Chinese National, Firm
The Supreme Court affirmed a GH¢9,000 special damages award against Huang Yumin and Sunlight Engineering Company Ltd. after two foreign-bred dogs bolted from the company’s premises and chased Bright Asante Appiah, causing him to fall and suffer serious injuries. The apex court dismissed the appeal and maintained the Court of Appeal’s adjustment, which had trimmed unpleaded transport costs from the High Court’s figures.
Myth Busted: Ghanaian Lawyers are Not Buried Head-Down
A widely repeated claim that lawyers in Ghana were buried head down was debunked as folklore rather than fact. The report positioned burial rites across Ghana’s ethnic groups as dignity-first and broadly consistent regardless of profession, with no credible evidence of any lawyer-specific “headfirst” practice.
Citizen Took CJ Removal Fight to Supreme Court, Citing Due-Process Gaps
Private citizen Ebenezer Osei-Owusu challenged the procedure being used toward the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, arguing it undermined fair hearing and judicial independence. He maintained that a prima facie assessment should not have proceeded without first serving the Chief Justice with petitions and allowing a response, with an injunction application scheduled for April 2, 2025.
Mahama Put Forward Seven Court of Appeal Judges for Supreme Court
President John Dramani Mahama nominated seven Court of Appeal Justices for appointment to Ghana’s Supreme Court under Article 144(2), subject to Judicial Council input and parliamentary approval. The move was positioned as a capacity uplift to help absorb workload and improve throughput at the apex level.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/president-mahama-nominates-seven-justices-to-ghana-s-supreme-court
7 Ghanaians, Nigerians Faced India Trial Over Alleged $94,000 Call-Centre Scam
Seven suspects were prosecuted in India after a sting linked them to a fake call-centre operation that allegedly duped over 350 victims using fabricated online identities and bogus “customs clearance” demands. Investigators reported major seizures including smartphones, laptops, SIM cards, and documents tied to multiple bank accounts, as authorities widened the probe to facilitators and procurement channels.
Holiday Act Overhaul Reset Republic Day, Founder’s Day, and “Friday Shift” Rule
Parliament passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, restoring July 1 as Republic Day and returning Founder’s Day to September 21. The reforms also introduced a productivity-driven policy that moved midweek public holidays to the nearest Friday to create long weekends, despite minority objections to the bill’s fast-tracked handling.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/see-the-proposed-changes-to-ghana-s-holiday-act
Supreme Court Drew a Hard Line: Wife’s Debt Did Not Touch Husband’s House
In our monthly judgment stories, we dealt with several cases. Key among them was Electroland Ghana Limited v. Paulina Adomako and Kingsley Adomako, in which the Supreme Court held that a husband’s solely owned property could not be attached to settle his wife’s judgment debt where no equitable interest was proven. The court found that the wife signing an indenture as a witness did not establish contribution or ownership, keeping the asset ring-fenced from execution.
Ablekuma North Violence Case Closed Fast: Eight Convicted, GH¢6,000 Fines Set
Eight men were convicted over violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary re-run and were fined GH¢6,000 each or faced 24 months’ imprisonment in default. Prosecutors said the group assaulted multiple persons including a former minister and party officials, and the expedited guilty pleas delivered a rapid accountability signal that governance watchers publicly welcomed.
Courtroom Operations Interrupted After Bee Swarm Forced Evacuation in Suhum
Proceedings at the Suhum Circuit Court were abruptly suspended after a swarm of bees invaded the premises, triggering a safety scramble. Fire officers contained and dispersed the swarm over nearly two hours, and no injuries were recorded, with staff later commending the emergency response.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/bees-invade-suhum-circuit-court--disrupt-proceedings
Ex-NSA Boss Denied Charges but Secured GH¢800m Bail in GH¢1.5bn Case
Former National Service Authority Director-General Osei-Assibey Antwi pleaded not guilty to 14 counts including causing financial loss, stealing, and money laundering exceeding GH¢1.5bn. The court granted GH¢800m bail with strict conditions including passport deposit, immigration stop listing, and periodic reporting, with disclosures ordered ahead of a December 2, 2025 return date.
Daddy Lumba Widowhood Dispute Ended With Dual-Spouse Recognition
A Kumasi High Court recognised Akosua Serwaa Fosuh and Priscila Ofori, known as Odo Broni, as surviving wives of the late Daddy Lumba following litigation after his July 26, 2025 death. The court rejected reliance on an alleged 2004 German civil marriage due to evidentiary failures, but held both customary marriages remained valid and undissolved, granting both women recognition for widowhood rites and estate-facing rights.
Adams Mahama Murder Trial Collapsed Again as High Court Discharged Accused
The Accra High Court discharged Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi in the Adams Mahama murder case, citing repeated prosecution delays, serial adjournments, and a stalled jury process that made continuation untenable. The discharge was not an acquittal, but it effectively ended active trial obligations unless the State restarted proceedings.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/adams-mahama-murder-case--high-court-discharges-afoko-asabke
Kpandai Election Rerun Order Headed to Supreme Court Over Time-Bar Argument
A Supreme Court fight was set after the Tamale High Court nullified Kpandai MP Mathew Nyindam’s 2024 victory and ordered a fresh election within 30 days. Nyindam’s team argued the petition was filed 32 days after gazetting, outside the 21-day statutory window, and therefore should have been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Kumasi Court’s Full Reasoning Mapped Evidence Failures and Customary-Law Logic
The detailed reasoning in the Daddy Lumba widowhood case framed foreign law as a fact requiring expert proof and foreign documents as requiring strict authentication under the Evidence Act. With the German marriage not proven and customary dissolution not established, the court treated both customary unions as co-existing in a polygamous framework, then issued consequential orders directing family recognition and funeral-process coordination.
Prempeh-led CRC Proposed a Governance Reset
The Constitution Review Committee proposed a restructuring of Ghana’s governance model, including a five-year presidential term, a firmer separation of powers by stopping MPs from serving as ministers, and reforms to the Council of State and integrity institutions. The recommendations were presented to President Mahama for policy and stakeholder routing.
Crypto Came In From the Cold
Ghana formally legalised and regulated virtual assets after President Mahama assented to the VASP law, placing crypto operators under licensing and supervision by the SEC or Bank of Ghana depending on activities. The shift moved the sector from “grey zone” to compliance-driven market architecture.
