High Court dismisses contempt case against K.T.Hammond

An Accra High Court has dismissed the contempt case against Minister for Trade and Industry, and MP for Adansi Asokwa, Hon. K.T.Hammond. 

The Minister was cited for contempt in July, by lawyers for Assin-North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, over comments he made in an interview regarding Mr. Quayuson's criminal case. 

According to the court document, Hon. K.T.Hammond, was alleged to have said in a July 4 interview with a TV station that the accused in the case, is guilty and will be jailed. Quayuson's side had deemed this a violation of his right to a fair trial and therefore asked the court to convict the Minister for contempt.

However, in a ruling today, October 19, the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh noted that the applicant failed to provide enough evidence to prove his case. 

“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,” Justice Mary Yanzuh said. 

Gyakye Quayson is facing charges of perjury and forgery of a passport with the specific charges being; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration.