Tuesday 22nd October, 2019
By
Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra Oct. 22, GNA – An Accra High Court on
Tuesday acquitted and discharged Freddie Blay, the National Chairman of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP), of contempt charge.
The Court noted that the Commission on Human
Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) failed to prove that indeed letters
and subpoena were served on the NPP Chairman.
Based on that the court held that the
application for contempt failed hence dismissed same and awarded cost of GH¢ 5,000.00
against CHRAJ.
Delivering its ruling on the application,
the Court presided over by Justice George Koomson said it took into
consideration three things namely whether or not the NPP Chairman was served
with the subpoena and letters.
Additionally, whether or not Mr Blay refused
to respond to the Subpoena and letters and whether or not the NPP Chairman‘s
action was contemptuous.
According to the court, Mr Blay denied
receiving any of the processes and the onus lied on CHRAJ to provide evidence
of service on Mr Blay.
It noted that Mr Blay was a public figure
and wondered why the Commission decided to serve Mr Blay at the NPP offices and
not at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
“Such mediocrity should not be encouraged and
I am of the firm conviction that CHRAJ failed to prove that the letters and
Subpoena were served on the respondent,” the Court ruled.
The Chairman of the governing NPP was cited
for contempt over his refusal to honour CHRAJ’s invitation to assist with investigations
into the procurement of 275 buses for his Party.
CHRAJ prayed the court to sentence Mr Blay
to prison if he was found guilty of contempt.
Mr Blay claimed he had not been invited and
challenged the Commission to arrest him if it was of firm believe that he had
breached the law.
The Commission then proceeded to court for
contempt.
CHRAJ provided certificate of service of
documents and letters as evidence.
GNA
