An Accra High Court has dismissed a contempt application against Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The ruling by Justice Charles Gyamfi Dankwa acquitted the lawmaker who was dragged to court by the secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, Rev Victor Kusi Boateng.

In addition, the pastor was slapped with a cost of GHS10,000.

Genesis Of Contempt Case
In January 2023, Rev Kusi Boateng sued Ablakwa for defamation over allegations the latter made against him relating to the National Cathedral.

The court process was served on the lawmaker while leaving the premises of Metro TV after a session on their morning show on February 3, however, he appeared kicking it in a viral video.

The Pastor, therefore, file a contempt application against the lawmaker demanding his imprisonment.

The opposition lawmaker argued that he was not served properly, that is, through the Speaker as demanded by law. According to him, his reaction was because he was served while on his way to Parliament- which violates the law.

Ruling
On May 2, Justice Dankwa delivered a ruling in favour of the legislator stating that the bailiff who served the court processes on the MP was not a recognised officer of the judicial service and; the court process was not to be served on the MPs while he was performing parliamentary duties, Graphic reports.

It further reports that Justice Dankwa further dismissed the application on the basis that there were inconsistencies in the affidavits filed by Rev Boateng and the said bailiff who filed the application.

According to the court, whereas the purported bailiff claimed the court process was put in the MP’s car and the legislator threw it away, Rev Boateng said the process was put at the side of the MP and he kicked it, Graphic noted.

Reaction

Following the ruling, the MP took to his Facebook page to describe the suit as a “distraction” to his publications on the National Cathedral.

He also announced the release of discoveries on the Cathedral on Thursday.

“Now the distraction is off; expect more US explosives on Thursday,” he said.

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah