Jake asks supporters to be mum over Sir John ‘punishment’

National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey has charged all communicators of the party not to comment on the ruling of the Supreme Court over the charges of contempt against the party’s General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, and member Hopeson Adorye.

The two were fined a total of GH¢7,000 on Wednesday for being found guilty over contemptuous statements they are accused to have uttered.

But immediately after the Court’s ruling, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey expressed gratitude to all NPP members for rallying behind their two leading members.

“Today we must all of us heave a sigh of relief and a sigh of congratulations to the Supreme Court judges for the magnanimity and sensitivity that they have shown in this manner,” he indicated.

“I don’t think it has lost on anybody that tension has risen in this country and that they have been able to deal with it in a way that satisfies the law and satisfies the sense of Justice,” he added.

The NPP Chairman was satisfied with the ruling meted out on his members, calling on all to “listen to what the judges say and must be much more proactive in correcting our people to respect the institutions of state.”

“I think today is a good day for Ghana,” he stressed. He called on all party communicators “to leave this matter to rest”.

Meanwhile, Mr Owusu Afriyie – popularly known as Sir John – has also expressed gratitude to members of the NPP for their prayers and support ahead of his appearance at the Supreme Court.

“What I will say is stand firm because our struggles and worries will be rewarded…For now everybody should be quiet for if you trust in the Lord he will fight for you.”

Sir John was slapped with a GH¢5,000 fine by the Court and was asked to put up a good behavior. Failure to pay the fine will see him cast into prison for six months.

Hopeson Adorye, on the other hand, was slapped with GH¢2,000 and will serve three months in jail if he defaults on the fine.

The fine has since been paid, reports say.