By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Kobina Tahir Hammond, known in the political space as Mr. K. T. Hammond, says an Accra High Court’s decision to strike out a contempt application filed against him by Mr. James Gyakye Quayson’s legal team is a vindication of free speech.
The Minister for Trade and Industry, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti region, celebrated the ruling as a victory for freedom of speech and urged the Assin North MP’s legal team to go back and familiarise themselves with the laws of Ghana before filing another contempt case against anyone.
“The judge was very articulate to the point, very legal in her analysis, and very clear, and in the end, freedom of speech has been vindicated. I want the lawyers of Gyakye Quayson to understand that you don’t take K. T. Hammond to court as a victim, as stated by his lawyer, Abraham Amaliba.
He (Mr. Amaliba) stood here, at the forecourt of this very building, and told the whole world that they decided to institute this application against me as a victim, and I am no one’s victim at all. They should go back and read the rudiments of the law,” he retorted.
Background
The MP for Assin-North James Gyakye Quayson, filed the writ at the Court citing KT Hammond for contempt for allegedly making prejudicial comments on his ongoing trial. Lawyers for Mr. Quayson claimed that on July 4, 2023, KT Hammond stated on a television station that the Assin-North MP is guilty of the charges against him and would go to Prison.
The Lawyers contend that the statement is extremely prejudicial and in contempt of Court.
It is the case of the Lawyers that the comments by KT Hammond have made it difficult for their client to receive a fair trial and want the Court to sanction the Minister who doubles as a Lawmaker.