The High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh has fixed October 19, 2023, to determine the fate of Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond who has been the subject of a Contempt application.
Lawyers of James Gyakye Quayson filed the application for Contempt against K. T Hammond for Contempt over what they described as prejudicial comments on the pending.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, in court, the Court presided over by Justice Mary Yanzuh ordered the parties to file their written submission simultaneously by August 31.
The Court then fixed October 19, 2023 for its ruling on the motion for the Contenpt.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, who was in court report that, K T Hammond who is the Member of Parliament for Adanse Asokwa, in the Ashanti Region.
Affidavit in Support
Per the Statement of case, it was the case of Quayson and his lawyers that, in an interview on 4 July 2023 on a TV station, Oyerepa TV, the Respondent categorically pronounced the accused person guilty of the charges for which he is standing trial in this court and the Respondent went ahead and stated that the Accused/Applicant will go to prison.
According to the applicant, by the words of the Respondent which have been widely publicized nationally and internationally, the Respondent is violating the right of the Accused/Applicant to be presumed innocent as well as the right of the accused to a fair trial.
The Applicant said the words of the Respondent are also in contempt of this Honourable Court as they are extremely prejudicial to the lawful process of this Honourable Court.
The Applicant said, such prejudice undermines the lawful judicial process and may even bring the said judicial process into disrepute as it will create in the minds of members of the public that no other conclusion other than that pronounced by the Respondent can occur.
“The Respondent is brazenly usurping the function of Her Ladyship, the trial judge, ni this court.
“That by virtue of Article 126(2) of the Constitution, this court has the power to commit the Respondent and people of his ilk for contempt of itself in order to keep the streams of justice pure.
“That the Respondent has no respect for the judicial process and the interview granted by the Respondent, in its totality, is ni egregious contempt of this Honourable court.
“WHEREFORE I swear to this affidavit in support of the application herein for the Respondent to be brought before this Honourable Court and tried for contempt of court and sentenced to prison if found guilty.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
