An Accra High Court has ruled in favour of the Trades Minister, Kobina Tahir Hammond, dismissing the contempt case brought against him by Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson. The case revolved around comments made by Minister Hammond regarding the outcome of the James Gyakye Quayson trial.
The presiding judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh, declared that the lawyers representing James Gyakye Quayson failed to produce the full interview in question, which was a crucial element in determining whether the accused was in contempt of court.
“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 stated.
The application to hold Minister Hammond in contempt stemmed from an interview he granted to Oyerepa TV in which he drew a parallel between the Gyakye Quayson case and that of former legislator Adamu Sakande.
In the interview, Minister Hammond remarked, “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. 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.”
The case of Adamu Dramani Sakande, which was referenced by Minister Hammond, involved the conviction of a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Bawku Central in July 2012. Adamu Dramani Sakande was found guilty of perjury and forgery for failing to renounce his UK citizenship before contesting for the Bawku seat. He was sentenced to two years in jail concurrently on all counts.
In light of the High Court’s decision, Minister Hammond is no longer held in contempt of court, and the case has come to a close. James Gyakye Quayson’s status in Parliament remains unchanged, pending any further legal developments.