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The Achimota District Court, presided over by His Worship Prince Osei Owusu, has granted a motion to set aside an arrest warrant issued against Ms. Karen Baaba Sam, which she claims was obtained illegally by her ex-partner, Nana Kwadwo Adjei, with the alleged assistance of some elements within the Ghana Police Service.
At a hearing on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, lawyers representing Ms. Baaba Sam argued that the arrest warrant, issued on January 20, 2025, was baseless and should be rescinded.
The state, represented by Senior State Attorney David Beecham, did not oppose the motion, and the magistrate consequently ruled to nullify the arrest warrant. This decision has effectively cleared Ms. Baaba Sam of any immediate threat of arrest, allowing her to resume her daily activities without the cloud of legal jeopardy hanging over her.
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The arrest warrant, which surfaced on social media on January 22, 2025, had stated that Ms. Baaba Sam was wanted by the to assist the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in an investigation into unlawful child removal.
The warrant described Ms. Baaba Sam as a 29-year-old woman, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a fair complexion, slim build, and a tattoo on her right breast. Authorities claimed that she was believed to be hiding in areas such as East Legon, Airport Residential Area, Cantonments, Osu, or Dzorwulu. The warrant was signed by Superintendent of Police Joseph Benefo Darkwah.
However, Ms. Baaba Sam’s legal team quickly found discrepancies regarding the warrant’s legitimacy. Upon conducting a search at the Achimota District Court to investigate the case behind the arrest warrant, Ms. Baaba Sam’s lawyers discovered that no such case was listed in the court’s records.
This prompted a formal request to the Daily Graphic newspaper to retract their coverage of the issue, which they complied with, issuing an apology for the publication.
In an affidavit filed by Ms. Baaba Sam, she stated that the warrant for her arrest had been procured through fraudulent means. She accused Detective Inspector Samuel Sakyi of misleading the court by presenting false claims about her custodial actions concerning her daughter. Ms. Baaba Sam also claimed that the allegations made by her ex-partner, Nana Kwadwo Adjei, were fabricated and motivated by a personal dispute involving ongoing custody and domestic abuse cases.
According to Ms. Baaba Sam, there are two active legal proceedings related to domestic violence and custody. One case is pending before the Circuit Court (Child-Friendly Gender-Based Violence Court), and the other is before the District Court in Accra. Ms. Baaba Sam emphasised that on December 13, 2024, the District Court ordered the sharing of the Christmas holiday between her and the complainant, but following an incident of alleged abuse, she sought interim protection orders from the Circuit Court, which were granted on December 23, 2024.
Ms. Baaba Sam also detailed how, on January 14, 2025, her ex-partner failed to appear in court, instead sending a lawyer with a false claim of travel. She alleged that he had taken steps to obtain court orders without her knowledge, continuing to make false claims to the police.
Ms. Baaba Sam’s affidavit further accused Detective Inspector Sakyi of acting on behalf of her ex-partner, suggesting that the officer’s actions were influenced by bribes intended to advance Adjei’s personal agenda. She contended that her ex-partner had been using both the court and elements of the police to unlawfully advance his own interests, thereby perverting the course of justice.
The affidavit also strongly rejected the notion that she had unlawfully taken her daughter, stressing that she was acting in compliance with the interim protection orders issued by the Circuit Court. Ms. Baaba Sam called for justice, urging the court to hold those responsible for the illegal warrant accountable.
The court’s decision to set aside the arrest warrant has provided Ms. Baaba Sam with some relief, as she is no longer threatened with arrest.
However, the case is not over, as the custody dispute between Ms. Baaba Sam and her ex-partner continues to unfold in various courts. Her legal team has expressed their determination to pursue justice for the harm and damage caused by the unlawful actions of those involved in obtaining the arrest warrant.
The Achimota District Court’s ruling has drawn attention to the ongoing issues of domestic abuse and custody disputes, particularly highlighting the role of law enforcement and the judiciary in ensuring that justice is served without undue influence or corruption. For now, Ms. Baaba Sam remains resolute in her legal fight, and her lawyers have vowed to continue pursuing the matter until all those involved in what they believe to be a miscarriage of justice are brought to account.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and due process within the legal system, especially when the lives of children and families are at stake. As the custody battles continue, Ms. Baaba Sam’s case is likely to remain a focal point in discussions on family law and the protection of individuals’ rights within Ghana’s judicial framework.
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