Ghana will ride high

In the run-up to the famous contempt case against the only ‘Sir’ in Ghanaian politic­s and one other member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), some people were not too sure of the aftermath of the summons.

Tension has been building in the country since the commencement of the election petition before the Supreme Court because we are not sure how Ghanaians will receive the verdict.

The invocation of the ‘Riots Act’, so to speak, by the Supreme Court ruffled feathers in certain quarters, with some lawyers and social commentators wondering whether contempt of court was replacing the criminal libel law.

Two persons received custodial sentences for bringing the integrity of the court into disrepute and that, to a large extent, brought about a semblance of sanity on the airwaves and in the newspapers.

When that decision was slapped on those two personalities, most people had expected that social commentators would be guided in their public discourse.

That was not to be, as many reckless remarks were made on social media platforms, radio and in the newspapers, to the discomfort of many peace-loving people.

Then, presto, the Supreme Court justices announced that a voice recording of remarks by Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, aka Sir John, the General Secretary of the NPP, and Mr Hopeson Adorye, a member of the NPP Communication Team, had been made available to them and that they would study it for the necessary action.

And just when many people thought the election petition hearing was drawing to a close, the court summoned the two gentlemen to show why they should not be sanctioned for making contemptuous remarks about the court.

The summons were received with mixed feelings, not just because of the bi-polar nature of our politics but largely as a result of the feeling that nothing should be done during the last hour to incite the teeming party supporters to violence.

But for the politics of our land, by which ‘club’ members do no wrong, the leadership of the NPP should have condemned the ‘poisonous’ remarks by Sir John and Adorye.

Thankfully, the two gentlemen had Mr Ayikoi Otoo, an experienced lawyer, to intervene on their behalf, compelling the justices to temper justice with mercy by imposing fines, instead of custodial sentences, on the contemnors.

The President of the nine-member panel, Mr Justice William Atuguba, spoke for majority of the people when he said, “The Judiciary will not sit down for the interest and safety of the people to be taken for a ride by a few reckless individuals who do not have the interest of the state at heart.”

Opinion is divided on what to expect from the learned judges on August 29, 2013 when they rule on this historic election petition.

Our justices have taken the oath to dispense justice without fear or favour, ill will or affection.

For this reason, the Daily Graphic believes that they will muster courage to dispense justice in the interest of the people and, more importantly, on the face of the law and the evidence before them.

We urge all Ghanaians to pray for our justices to be fearless, firm and fair in their verdict.

The Daily Graphic also prays to the Almighty God to grant the justices the wisdom of King Solomon to give the decision that will bring an otherwise polarised society together for national development.

Daily Graphic/Ghana