The Attorney General has been ordered to pay Transparency International $750 for late submission of its defense in the action filed against the Agyapa deal by the ECOWAS Court.
Transparency International has asked the sub-regional court to put a stop to a proposed sale aimed at monetizing Ghana's gold and instead allow for more consultations, claiming that the inclusion of politically exposed people in the transaction is questionable.
The matter was heard for the first time by the Sub-Regional Court in Accra on Wednesday, March 23.
Despite failing to file a defense after several months, Chief State Attorney Dorothy Afriyie Ansah petitioned the court to allow the Attorney General's Office to do so.
She explained that she was ill because she had had post-COVID-19 difficulties as the officer in charge of the case.
Transparency International's lawyers, lead by Olumide Babalola, did not object to the request. As a result, the Court accepted the Attorney General's suggested defense.
Transparency International's lawyers had issued a response to the proposed defense, which had now been adopted, according to Mrs Afriyie Ansah.
As a result, she urged the court to extend the deadline for the office to file a new response. This did not sit well with Mr Babalola, who urged the court to award a $1,000 cost if an adjournment was granted.
Edward Amoako Asante, the Presiding Judge, noted that the late filing was due to illness.
Mr Babalola argued that because he traveled into the country from the United Kingdom, he is entitled to reimbursement.
"As long back as July 2021, they were served. I arrived two days ago from the United Kingdom. "The cost is incalculable." He stated his case.
As a result, the Court ordered the Attorney General to pay Transparency International $750.
The AG has also been given till Monday, March 28 to file the extra documents.
On Wednesday, March 30, the case will be heard.
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