Court To Decide On Rawlings' Summon Today

The Fast Track Court will today, decide whether or not to invite former President Rawlings to retract statements he made in connection with the ongoing Quality Grain Trial. This follows a request by the prosecution to summon the former President to retract and apologise for commenting on the trial in an interview with Peace FM in Accra.

The trial judge, Justice Afreh, adjourned Thursday’s (24.01.2002) proceedings after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence, saying he needed time to study the contents of tape recordings and transcripts of an interview Mr. Rawlings granted Peace FM. Joy FM, which also re-broadcast parts of the interview also submitted a tape and transcripts of the recording to the court.

The prosecution, led by deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Akuffo, requested the court to summon former President Rawlings to retract and apologise for the comments in the interview. She said the former President had sought to undermine the credibility of the court and the integrity of the Judge and the Judiciary.

However, a member of the defence counsel, Nene Amegatcher, argued that Mr. Rawlings’s remarks in the interview could not be contemptuous of court since he has every right as former Head of State to comment on a matter that is of great concern just like any other person. He said Mr. Rawlings only criticised the media for poor reportage of court proceedings, and the government for initiating court proceedings against members of his government.

He further argued that Mr. Rawlings’ criticism of the Selormey trial and his conviction was his right just as the bar, the bench and the general public are entitled to criticise the outcome of any court case. Nene Amegatcher pointed out that Mr. Rawlings’ insistence to the reporters that they should stay off areas, which could be considered subjudice was an indication that he did not intend to scandalise the court.

Earlier on, counsel for Joy FM and Peace FM, Ebow Daniels, pleaded with the court to accept an apology and a retraction from the two stations since they had no intention to ridicule the court. On his part, the judge said he had no reason to fault the two radio stations in broadcasting the interview with the former President saying they were only doing their work as purveyors of news.