The High Court in Accra has officially acquitted and discharged social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who had been standing trial for treason since 2022.
The charges stemmed from his social media post threatening a coup if Parliament passed the controversial E-Levy bill, which was later enacted into law.
The case, which sparked widespread public debate and concerns over free speech, saw little progress in court due to the Prosecution’s inability to provide substantial evidence beyond the accused’s social media post.
Mr. Barker-Vormawor, who faced the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty, also lost his Cambridge scholarship during the trial.
The Attorney General’s decision to file a nolle prosequi, effectively discontinuing the case, adds to a growing list of high-profile cases dropped since the new administration took office.
Neither Mr. Barker-Vormawor nor his legal team was present in court when the trial judge, Justice Mary Ekua Yanzu, struck out the charges on Tuesday March 18, 2025.
Following his acquittal, Mr. Barker-Vormawor has taken to social media to express gratitude to those who supported him throughout the ordeal.
