Source: newsthemegh.com
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a North Tongu MP, was the target of a contempt complaint, but it was rejected by the High Court in Accra.
The General Secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, filed a contempt petition and claimed that the MP had slandered him. The High Court, presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Dankwa, dismissed the petition today.
Okudzeto Ablakwa was granted a cost of GHc10,000 against the applicant.
Speaking to journalists after the dismissal of the case on Tuesday, May 2, Ablakwa said the dismissal “gives us the verve, it gives impetus, it gives us more drive, more inspiration to keep doing what is right in in the national interest. Nothing is going to stop us now. We are no longer going to be distracted by all of these shenanigans, the abuse of the judicial process.
“I am glad that the judge really stamped the authority of the court and cleared this out of the way, dismissed it and awarded cost so that we can focus really on the work we are doing for God and country.”
Elis Armah, the bailiff who served the MP with court documents, was not a recognized member of the judicial service, the court ruled in its decision dismissing the contempt application.
The court ruled that such a move contravened the Chief Justice’s order that court papers be delivered by authorized bailiffs of the judicial service.
Once more, the court ruled that MPs exercising parliamentary duties could not be served with court documents.
The court ruled that the petitioner was required to determine if Mr. Ablakwa was engaged in parliamentary work on the day the summons was delivered to him and, if so, to adjust the proper method of service.
Justice Dankwa further dismissed the application on the grounds that the affidavits submitted by Rev. Boateng and the aforementioned bailiff, who filed the motion, were inconsistent.
In contrast to the supposed bailiff’s assertion that the MP put the court documents in his car and the lawmaker threw them away, Rev. Boateng asserted that the MP placed the documents at his side and kicked them.
“The application for contempt is thrown out as the applicant could not prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Justice Dankwa declared.