Court orders injured Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah to appear in person despite medical treatment

The legal challenges facing broadcast journalist and political commentator Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah took another dramatic turn on Friday after the Nsuta Circuit Court ordered him to appear physically before the court despite reports that he is still receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during his arrest.

The court ruled that the personal attendance of the accused was mandatory for the proceedings to continue, rejecting attempts for the case to proceed solely through his legal representatives.

The latest development comes after days of legal delays and procedural setbacks that have kept the outspoken media personality in police custody following his arrest during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executive elections at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region.

Although Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah’s lawyers were present before the Nsuta Circuit Court, the presiding judge held that the nature of the criminal proceedings required the accused himself to be present in court.

According to the court, his physical appearance was essential and could not be substituted by representation through counsel alone.

The directive was issued despite reports that Afrifa-Mensah continues to receive medical attention after sustaining injuries during his arrest.

His legal team had indicated that the accused was undergoing treatment, but the court maintained that his attendance remained a legal requirement for the case to proceed.

The case stems from disturbances that occurred during the NPP’s constituency executive elections at Wiamoase on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

According to the Ashanti North Regional Police Command, Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah and six other suspects were arrested after violence reportedly disrupted the electoral process at the SDA Church polling station.

Police alleged that the suspects arrived at the venue with a group of supporters and interfered with the conduct of the elections.

However, reports indicate that Afrifa-Mensah had travelled to the election grounds to serve what he claimed was a court injunction intended to halt the polls.

The Ghana Police Service has maintained that neither the Police nor the Electoral Commission had received any valid court order directing that the elections be suspended.

During the arrest, Afrifa-Mensah suffered a head injury and was later seen with blood flowing from a deep cut on his head, an incident that generated widespread public concern and calls for an independent account of how the injury occurred.

Following the incident, police escorted him to the Asante Mampong Government Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment while remaining under police guard.

The prosecution of the case has, however, experienced several delays.

The seven suspects were first arraigned before the Asante Mampong District Court, which declined jurisdiction over the matter and discharged the accused persons from that court.

Despite the discharge, police immediately re-arrested all seven suspects and kept them in custody pending their appearance before a court with the appropriate jurisdiction.

When the suspects were subsequently transferred to the Nsuta Circuit Court, proceedings were postponed after the presiding judge was reported to be indisposed.

The delay meant that no plea was taken and no application for bail was heard, forcing the accused persons to remain in police custody.