Hanan, Dame in Vacation ‘Dance’ Stage

Srem Sai Demand Proof of Lies

By Prince Ahenkorah

A bitter courtroom drama unfolded at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as conflicting explanations for the absence of former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame plunged the corruption trial of ex-NAFCO boss Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife into a fresh storm of controversy.

While Hanan insisted his lead counsel was “too ill to appear” claiming Dame was “in and out of the hospital” a letter uncovered by this newspaper reveals that Dame had formally notified the Chief Justice on August 5 that he would not participate in any proceedings during the legal vacation, which runs from August 1 to September 30.

The glaring contradiction has left legal observers asking: Is Mr. Dame genuinely unwell, or is he executing a calculated boycott of a trial he believes should not be heard during the recess?

Appearing alongside his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, Hanan told the presiding judge that Dame’s absence was due to a sudden illness. “My lawyer could not appear today because he has fallen ill and is currently receiving medical treatment,” Hanan stated, without producing any medical certificate.

For her part, Faiza informed the court that her own counsel, Augustine Obuor, was also “indisposed” adding to the unusual pattern of dual absences.

But the court was already aware of Dame’s earlier missive to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, in which he flatly stated he would “not participate” in vacation hearings. Dame argued that the trial had not commenced before the recess and that no “exceptional circumstances” existed to justify proceeding with the substantive case.

His stance has been backed by the legal team of former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, who similarly objected to the vacation schedule.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai did not mince words. He challenged Hanan’s illness claim, pointing out that Dame had already expressed his unwillingness to appear and had petitioned the Chief Justice against the vacation hearings.

“If ill health is now the reason, the court deserves medical evidence. We cannot accept convenience as a substitute for fact,” Dr. Srem-Sai asserted, throwing a direct challenge to the defense team.

He further insisted that lawyers cannot unilaterally dictate whether courts sit during the vacation a position that has set the stage for a constitutional showdown.

Adding another twist, Hanan informed the court that he had filed a stay of proceedings application at the Court of Appeal, with a hearing scheduled for October 19. He begged for a long adjournment to allow the appellate process to play out.

But the presiding judge was unmoved, rejecting the request for an extended break and firmly fixing August 17 for the case to resume. The judge also ordered that Dame must appear in person to address the court on the pending stay application.

The Ghana Bar Association has already urged the Chief Justice to uphold established vacation practices, while the Deputy AG’s hardline stance signals that the executive is unwilling to grant any special exemptions.

As the August 17 deadline looms, the question remains: Will Godfred Yeboah Dame show up or will the court be forced to compel his appearance, illness or not?

The Hanan-Dame double standard has turned a routine court hearing into a test of judicial authority, legal ethics, and the limits of a lawyer’s right to choose when to work.