An Accra High Court has dismissed a contempt case filed against Trades Minister, Kobina Tahir Hammond by James Gyakye Quayson.
The court ruled that it does not find Trades Minister, Kobina Tahir Hammond guilty of contempt following the comments he made regarding the outcome of the James Gyakye Quayson trial.
The presiding judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh, stated that the counsel for Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson failed to deliver the entire interview, preventing the court from convicting the accused.
“It was incumbent on the applicant to exhibit the full interview. Without the full complement of the interview, the court is deprived of the opportunity to know exactly what was said.
“The court cannot rely on the manifestly incomplete publication to rule on a man who denies the content of the publication. There is no room for conjecture. Evidence was required,” Justice Yanzuh said.
The lawyers for the Assin North MP prayed the court to punish Mr Hammond for saying James Quayson may as well leave Parliament since he would end up in jail.
The contempt case was filed after the Minister’s interview with Oyerepa TV, where he compared the Quayson case to that of former legislator Adamu Sakande.
“There is something we call precedence at the court. This is the same thing that happened with Adamu Sakande. He came to this House…the same NDC (National Democratic Congress) members were the ones who sacked him from Parliament and took him to court. He was imprisoned and he eventually died and was buried. It is the same matter,” he said.
“They are making all kinds of noise about his swearing-in. I prompted the former Deputy Attorney General, Dominic Ayine to tell the gentleman that we have seen this before in this House. He should leave this House before he would be jailed,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
