The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie has been found guilty of criminal contempt and fined GHC5, 000 by the panel of judges hearing the election petition case.
He would face six months in jail if he defaults in paying the fine.
Mr. Owusu Afriyie and another party activist, Hopeson Adorye were found guilty of making contemptuous comments about the election petition petition case.
Mr. Adorye who was also fined GHC2, 000 would also face three months in jail if he defaults in paying the fine.
Both Mr. Owusu Afriyie and Hopson Adorye are also to sign a bound of good behavior for 6 months and 3 months.
The two appeared before the panel of Judges hearing the election petition case at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to purge themselves of comments they made against the judges hearing election petition case which the court considered as contemptuous.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Owusu Afriyie, former Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy as his clients have made efforts to purge themselves prior to their appearance in court.
“At this stage my lord, I apologize unreservedly for whatever has taken place and to seek to purge whatever contempt that you might have found yourself in.”
According to him, Mr. Owusu Afriyie since his summon “has issued guidelines to all NPP communicators on avoiding contempt…he has gone round the regions talking to communicators, advising them to change their ways…he has therefore taken decisive steps to purge himself of contempt.”
Lawyer Otoo further stated that the said comments were made in the Twi language therefore it is possible the interpretation would not be exact.
‘Sir John speaks impeccable Twi and indeed what he is alleged to have said were all spoken in Twi. I have looked at the summons where there has been a translation of what he said in the Twi Language…We cannot say that perhaps they accurately described what he might have said.”
During the turn of Hopeson Adorye, Lawyer Otoo also appealed on his behalf and asked the court to have mercy
Justice Atuguba in his address to the court expressed his displeasure over unguarded and careless statements members of political parties and some social commentators make.
“This is one of the worrying things in this country that the way politicians, some of them play the game. They think they can dribble everybody, play political chess with everybody and get away with it even though it has repercussions. That is our concern.”
One of the Judges, Justice Dotse indicated that the leadership of the party since the matter was raised have on no platform condemned the actions and comments of their General Secretary.
“For me what saddens me as a Ghanaian is that I have not heard any condemnation from the leadership of the political party is he General Secretary of. Not a single word of condemnation has come from the leadership of that party.”
Source: citifmonline
