some renowned lawyers have expressed concern over unwarranted post-court commentaries by the General Secretaries of the two major political parties, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie of New Patriotic Party(NPP) and Johnson Asiedu Nketia of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The lawyers; Sam Okudzeto, Moses Foh-Amoaning and Opoku Agyemang spoke on Adom FM’s Dea Mehunu programme which was also live on Asempa FM, Wendnesday night.
Mr. Okudzeto noted that “the court has been restraining themselves but if they are to apply the strict principles of contempt of court, some of them could have been in jail by now”.
He said it was the responsibility of the judges and not for individuals to predict the judgment of the court.
His warning turned into a plea that they [partisan actors] should ” be patient and wait for the judges to hear the matter and come to a conclusion”
The former GBA president said “the judges have the power and authority to lock you up for contempt and it’s not a small matter they can send you to Nsawam prison just like that and there’s nothing you can do about it which your supporters can not release you”.
He noted that the proceedings at the court cannot be compared to political platforms for propaganda which the leadership of the NPP and NDC must avoid the media war.
Sam Okudzeto noted that there was tension in the country and emphasised the need for party communicators to be cautious of the inflammatory comments.
But the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John has disagreed with Sam Okuzeto.
A defensive Sir John said “I don’t think I’m in any contempt of court. I don’t understand it seriously, I don’t think my comment in the media will influence the decision of the judges,” Sir John insisted.
He minced no words when he further served notice that “I don’t know about Asiedu Nketia but I am Sir John. I will comment”.