The Kumasi High Court has cleared Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), of all corruption charges.
The verdict comes nearly three years after a viral video sparked public uproar and triggered a high-profile trial.
Sarfo-Kantanka faced 26 counts of corruption related to allegations that he paid assembly members to influence their votes during the confirmation process for his MCE nomination.
The video that propelled the case showed him demanding the return of money from assembly members following his rejection—a clip that quickly spread on social media and raised serious questions about electoral integrity.
However, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, presiding over the case, ruled that the video did not provide sufficient evidence that the payments were intended to sway the assembly members’ decisions.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) confirmed the acquittal and discharge on Monday, May 26, 2025.
“The video footage does not establish that the monies were meant to influence the votes of assembly members,” the OSP explained in a Facebook post, emphasizing the legal basis for the court’s decision.
Sarfo-Kantanka had been under trial since May 2022, when the OSP formally charged him following public elections in September and November 2021.
The charges alleged that corrupt practices were involved in securing confirmation for his appointment as Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben in the Ashanti Region.
The court’s ruling marks the end of a contentious chapter in the political appointment process, highlighting the challenges of proving corruption in cases involving alleged vote-buying.
