The Supreme Court has handed former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan a major legal victory after annulling garnishee proceedings initiated by the High Court in Accra over a GH₵1 million judgment debt.
The unanimous decision, delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Amadu Omoro Tanko, with Justices Yoni Kulendi, Senyo Dzamefe, Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, and Yaw Asare Darko concurring, ruled that the ex parte proceedings and orders issued against Gyan were wrongful and must be quashed.
Earlier, the High Court had directed seven banks — including CBG, Ecobank, Zenith, GT Bank, Access, GCB, and Stanbic — to appear before it and justify why funds in Gyan’s accounts should not be used to settle a GH₵1,061,000 judgment debt owed to journalist Anthony Osarfo.
This followed a November 2024 order by Justice Owusu Dapaa, which was granted despite an appeal and an application for stay of execution already pending before higher courts.
Gyan’s legal team, led by Bobby Banson, subsequently filed a motion at the Supreme Court seeking to nullify the garnishee order, arguing that it was procedurally flawed and violated the principles of fair hearing. The apex court agreed, effectively halting all enforcement actions until the Court of Appeal hears the substantive case.
Background
The dispute traces back to a malicious prosecution claim filed by journalist Anthony Osarfo following his acquittal in an alleged rape case involving the football star. In December 2023, Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa ruled in Osarfo’s favour, awarding him GH₵900,000 in damages, GH₵111,000 for lost income, and GH₵60,000 in legal costs — totaling over GH₵1 million.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling offers temporary reprieve to Gyan and his manager as they await the outcome of their appeal challenging the earlier High Court judgment.
