An Accra High Court has ordered that the criminal trial of Nana Appiah Mensah, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct gold dealership firm Menzgold Ghana Limited, be conducted virtually after his legal team submitted a medical report advising against physical exertion.
The decision was communicated to Mensah’s legal team on Monday, March 30, 2026, following a medical note from his physician advising that he should avoid maximal physical exertion, prompting the court to transition from in-person proceedings to electronic hearings.
The development comes at a critical juncture in the trial, as the High Court had already directed Mensah to open his defence, the phase of proceedings in which the accused is required to respond substantively to the prosecution’s case.
Mensah, widely known as NAM1, faces multiple criminal charges including defrauding by false pretences, operating a gold trading business without a licence, and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and remains on bail. Prosecutors allege that he, his wife, and his sister used Menzgold to defraud more than 16,000 customers of GH¢1.68 billion between 2016 and 2018.
The virtual hearing arrangement is intended to allow the trial to continue without interruption while accommodating Mensah’s reported medical condition. No next hearing date has been publicly confirmed.
Frederick Forson, Convener of the Aggrieved Customers of Menzgold, has in previous hearings renewed calls for expedited proceedings, claiming nearly 300 affected customers have died over the years due to frustration over unpaid investments.
