Looming contempt: 'Sir John' questions authenticity of tape recording

NPP General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie has questioned the authenticity of a tape recording in which he is purported to have made comments contemptuous of the Supreme Court.

President of the panel of judges hearing the election petition hinted of a looming contempt of court charge on Sir John’s utterances.

Justice Atuguba made reference to a front-page publication by the Enquirer newspaper in which Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as ‘Sir John’, is reported to have made contemptuous statements in respect of the justices.

The publication was based on comments by the NPP scribe on Oman FM, an Accra-based radio station.

He is reported to have said the following in reference to the presiding judge, Justice William Atuguba.

“Do they think we are stupid? You sit there and frown like a voodoo deity. When Addison is talking you shut him down and beat him with sticks but when it comes to Tsatsu, when he gets angry you ask him apologetically if he is angry. What hurts me the most is that man you call Atugubu or Atuguba“

He also criticized questions asked by Tsatsu Tsikata, counsel for the ruling NDC, when he cross-examined the star witness for the petitioners, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, describing them as nonsensical.

In a brief interview with Joy FM, Sir John doubted the authenticity of the tape recording referred to by Justice Atuguba.

He suggested that the tape played by Accra based radio station Radio Gold had been doctored.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has come out with guidelines for NPP communicators commenting on the ongoing election petition hearing at the Supreme Court.

It reminded its members not to “pass personal remarks about judges."