The High Court has ordered the Chief Executive of defunct Menzgold Company Ltd, Nana Appiah Mensah aka NAM1, to file his witness statement after he attempted to give oral testimony.
NAM1 has opened his defence after the Supreme Court dismissed his application to quash the High Court’s decision.
The former Menzgold boss has charged with buying and selling gold without licence, defrauding by false pretence, and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty and is on bail.
In court on Monday, February 2, 2026, counsel for NAM1, led by Emmanuel Amoakohene, prayed the court to strike out their application to stay proceedings after informing the court that they had withdrawn their judicial review application at the Supreme Court.
“We scheduled a motion to stay proceedings before you today. That application has however, been rendered nugatory following the decision of the applicant to withdraw the substantive application before the Supreme Court. We seek your leave to have our pending application before you struck out as withdrawn. I so pray.”
He however, noted that their application appealing the High Court’s decision at the Court of Appeal was still pending.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Watkins Adama, did not oppose the prayer, after which the court struck out their application as withdrawn.
The ex-Menzgold boss testified that he legitimately acquired operational licences from the Precious Mineral Marketing Company (PMMC) after applying and passing extensive scrutiny from the body.
“The company applied to PMMC, completed the relevant documentation and paid the relevant fees. We were subjected to PMMC’s internal processes and screening and were issued a license to undertake our operations.
“Subsequently, about two or three years later, the status of PMMC changed when government mandated it as a national assay office instead of a licensing body. Against that backdrop, A2 (Menzgold Company Ltd) was advised to apply to the Minerals Commission.
“The application went through all the necessary processes, including the submission of a comprehensive profile detailing the specific business areas and product lines we intended to operate under the licence. All required fees were paid and we were eventually invited to sign the necessary documents. Based on this, A2 obtained the relevant approvals to operate,” NAM1 indicated to the court.
When asked to produce proof of the availability of the licences, the embattled Menzgold CEO explained that when given the opportunity, he would produce it at the next adjourned date.
Nana Appiah Mensah further indicated to the court that following the shutdown of Menzgold and Brew Marketing Consult by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) took control of the office outlets, affecting the documents which otherwise would have been relied on as evidence to prove his innocence against the charges levelled against him.
Presiding Judge Sedinam Kwadam then ordered that NAM1 file his witness statement in order to attach all relevant documentary evidence he will rely on in the case.
He is to do so by February 9 and return to the court on February 19 for continuation of the case.