Chief Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah has dismissed allegations levelled against him, to the effect, that he demanded a $5million bribe to influence a case pending before the Supreme Court.

A letter to the Inspector General of Police July 12, attention the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo, said, "His Lordship asserts that he has not demanded or received any money from any person to influence any decision in this matter or any other matter."

The letter further indicated that the Chief Justice, “does not know the plaintiff and has not met or seen him anywhere, except in the courtroom when he rises to announce his name when his case is called. His Lordship asserts that he has had no personal interaction either with the plaintiff or his lawyer on this matter or in any other matter."

A Kumasi-based Lawyer, Akwasi Afrifa, Esq, made the allegation in a letter circulating on social media. The letter is a response to an invitation by the General Legal Council for him to appear before it, in relation to a petition by his former client, Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta IV, for failing to pay an amount of $75,000 he (Akwasi Afrifa, Esq) owes the latter.

Lawyer, Akwasi Afrifa, Esq, alleged that his former client, Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta IV informed him that Chief Justice Kwesi Annin-Yeboah, "demanded a bribe of USD5,000,000 for a successful outcome of his case and that he had already paid USD500,000 to the Chief Justice." The case under reference is OGYEEDOM OBRANU KWESI ATTA IV V GHANA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY & LANDS COMMISSION.

Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo noted that records show, that the plaintiff, in the matter of OGYEEDOM OBRANU KWESI ATTA IV V GHANA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY & LANDS COMMISSION, unsuccessfully petitioned for the recusal of His Lordship the Chief Justice and His Lordship Justice Victor Jones Mawulom Dotse from the matter, on a claim, that they were prejudiced against him.

"The records further show, that the Chief Justice was the only Judge on a panel who recently, on 31 March 2021, dissented in an application at the instance of the plaintiff, Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta IV in favour of the respondent, Ghana Telecommunications Co. Ltd.

The letter from the Judicial Service also noted that, "His Lordship is saddened that without any shred of evidence, his name has been dragged into this sordid and potentially criminal matter."

The Chief Justice has, therefore, requested the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter.

Aside from that initiative, Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah has directed that a petition be lodged with the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council in respect of this specific matter.

"His Lordship is available to assist with all investigations into this matter, while he considers his own civil legal options to ensure that this matter is dealt with to its logical conclusions," the letter indicated.