The Supreme Court will on Wednesday rule on an application challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear a contempt case against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
A five-member panel of the apex court Tuesday [October 13, 2020] adjourned the case to Wednesday, October 14, 2020 to allow the Attorney General’s Department to respond to the application filed by the MP. The panel is presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie with Justices Yaw Appau, Gabriel Pwamang, Issifu Omoro Tanko Ampadu and Yonny Kulendi.
Not guilty
Mr Agyapong allegedly insulted a Justice of the High Court with unprintable words on a live television programme. He has pleaded not guilty to contempt after he was charged with scandalising the court and bringing its name into disrepute.
Application at Supreme Court
The MP on September 17 asked the Supreme Court to stop contempt proceedings against him by the Accra High Court.
Lawyers for the MP filed a judicial review application at the apex court, barely 24 hours after he was supposed to appear before the High Court and explain why he should not be punished for allegedly describing the judge as “stupid.”
The MP wants the Supreme Court to prohibit the High Court from hearing the contempt case and also quash the order of summons for him to appear before the court on the basis that the particular court (Land Court 12) that summoned him had no jurisdiction to do so.
Different court
In his affidavit in support, the MP avers that his comments were not against Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni of Land Court 12 but was rather against a different judge in another matter at Labour Court 2, for which he said had duly apologized.
“The words uttered which I deem uncomplimentary and I have since apologized were not directed at the Court, presided over by His Lordship Amos Wuntah Wuni, the Court is not seized with jurisdiction to order the applicant to appear and to answer why he should not be severely punished for contempt of court,” the MP said in his affidavit in support.
