Achanfuo-Yeboah v The Queen

In the matter of *Achanfuo-Yeboah v The Queen*, the applicant, David Achanfuo-Yeboah, sought a stay of his sentence and bail pending appeal before Refshauge ACJ. The core of the dispute concerned the applicant's eligibility for bail and a stay of his sentence, which had been imposed on 25 May 2016.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the applicant had demonstrated special or exceptional circumstances warranting the grant of bail pending his appeal. This required the court to consider various factors presented by the applicant, including the difficulty he faced in securing legal representation, a medical condition necessitating daily medication, and the severe hardship his continued incarceration would impose on his family.

Refshauge ACJ reasoned that the cumulative effect of the applicant's circumstances constituted special and exceptional reasons for granting a stay of sentence and bail. The court acknowledged the importance of access to legal representation, the applicant's ongoing medical needs, and the significant impact on his family. Consequently, the court ordered that the sentence imposed on David Achanfuo-Yeboah be stayed from 23 December 2016 until 24 March 2017, and that bail be granted during this period, subject to conditions to be determined.