High Court Orders NAM1 to Submit Witness Statement by February 9
Junior Kojo
Editor, PulseView
The High Court has directed Nana Appiah Mensah, widely known as NAM1, to submit his written witness statement by February 9, 2026, as his criminal trial, linked to the collapse of Menzgold Ghana Limited, continues.
The order followed an attempt by the former Menzgold Chief Executive Officer to give oral testimony without first filing a written statement, contrary to established criminal procedure.
Defence Begins After Supreme Court Ruling
NAM1 formally opened his defence after the Supreme Court dismissed his application challenging an earlier decision of the High Court. The ruling removed the final procedural hurdle, allowing the trial to proceed fully.
He is currently standing trial on several charges, including:
- Trading in gold without the required licence
- Defrauding by false pretence
- Money laundering
NAM1 has entered a not guilty plea to all charges and remains on bail.
Motion to Stay Proceedings Withdrawn
During proceedings on Monday, February 2, 2026, counsel for the accused, Emmanuel Amoakohene, informed the court that his client had withdrawn a judicial review application previously filed at the Supreme Court.
As a result, the defence requested that a pending motion to stay proceedings before the High Court be struck out.
“We had scheduled a motion to stay proceedings before this court today. However, that application has become unnecessary following the withdrawal of the substantive matter at the Supreme Court. We respectfully seek leave for the application to be struck out as withdrawn,” counsel stated.
The defence clarified, however, that an appeal against the High Court’s decision is still pending before the Court of Appeal.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Watkins Adama, did not oppose the request, after which the court struck out the application.
NAM1 Maintains Menzgold Operated Lawfully
Testifying in court, Nana Appiah Mensah maintained that Menzgold’s operations were lawful, stating that the company secured the appropriate licences from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) after fulfilling all regulatory requirements.
He explained that Menzgold completed all documentation, paid the required fees, and successfully underwent PMMC’s vetting processes before being authorised to operate.
“The company applied to PMMC, complied with all documentation requirements, paid the relevant fees, and was subjected to thorough internal scrutiny before a licence was issued,” he told the court.
NAM1 added that the regulatory landscape later changed when PMMC was designated as a National Assay Office, thereby losing its authority to issue operational licences.
Fresh Application to Minerals Commission
Following the change in PMMC’s mandate, NAM1 said Menzgold was advised to submit a new application to the Minerals Commission to regularise its business activities.
He told the court that the company complied fully, submitting a detailed business profile outlining its intended operations and product offerings.
“All required fees were paid, the necessary procedures were followed, and we were eventually invited to sign the relevant documents. Based on that process, the company received approval to operate,” he said.
Access to Documents Affected by Shutdown
When asked to provide documentary proof to support his claims, NAM1 indicated that he would present the documents at the next hearing.
He explained that after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shut down Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) took over the company’s offices nationwide.
According to him, this development affected access to documents that could have been used in his defence.
Court Sets Deadline
Presiding judge Justice Sedinam Kwadam subsequently instructed NAM1 to comply with court procedure by filing his witness statement, together with all supporting documents he intends to rely on.
The court ordered that the statement be filed no later than February 9, 2026, with the case set to continue on February 19, 2026.
Source:3news.com
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