Foreign Minister & Rawlings in contempt of court

Former President Rawlings and Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang may appear before the Fast Track Court trying the Quality Grain saga on the charge of contempt of court.

The prosecution led by deputy Attorney General and deputy Minister for Justice, Gloria Akufo-Addo submitted in court that Rawlings is in contempt of court for statements he made on two radio stations in Accra concerning the on-going Quality Grain trial.

The defence has also cited Mr. Owusu-Agyemang for similar charge. Justice Kwame Afreh, an Appeal Court Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge will rule Tuesday, January 29, 2002 on the submissions.

The judge has also ordered Ghana Television and Joy FM to produce tapes in which the Foreign Minister is alleged to have made certain statements regarding the trial.

Mr. Owusu-Agyemang also MP for New Juaben North was said to have made the statements on JOY FM in August and again on a GTV Talk Show, Kweku-One-on-One in November last year. The defence claims, these statements can be prejudicial to the case.

Making her submissions, the deputy Attorney General told the court that the former President’s statement on both Peace and JOY FM which was played in court at its sitting Thursday, January 24, 2002, seeks to show that the accused persons in the Quality Grain Trial ought not to have been brought to court although the case is subjudice.

According to the deputy A-G, the former president’s statement undermines the court and the judicial system in the country. She therefore prayed the court to invite the former president to court for him to be called to order and be made to apologise to the court for his statement.

With regard to the tape, which was played by the two Accra-based radio stations, she said the two radio stations should apologise and retract the materials and undertake not to repeat it.

Counsel for Kwame Peprah, Kweku Baah, told the court that statements made by Senior Minister, J.H. Mensah and Hackman Owusu-Agyemang are equally prejudicial to the trial.

He produced a tape on Kweku-One-on-One programme on GTV in which the Foreign Minister, allegedly made statements, which Mr. Kweku Baah, claimed, are prejudicial.

Counsel therefore prayed the court to order for the tapes from GTV and Joy FM to be played in court as well, adding that if the Rawlings tape was played, then Hackman’s tape should as well be played.

Counsel for Dr. George Dapaah, Mr. Nene Amegacher on his part prayed the court to be circumspect in dealing with the former President. To him, Rawlings has the right to criticise Victor Selormey’s conviction because he was in his government, adding his comments on that particular judgement do not constitute contempt of court.

He explained that the Bar and the Bench as well as the public are free to criticise the judgement. To him, Rawlings has not scandalized the court and has not interfered in proceedings of the court. Counsel according called on the court to refuse the application of the deputy A-G in her submission that the former president be invited to apologise to the court.

Meanwhile, the court has accepted the apology of both Peace FM and Joy FM for airing the interview granted Rawlings. The judge said in interviewing the former president, the radio stations was doing their work in seeking information.

Two former ministers of state and three top officials in the NDC regime are being tried for their alleged involvement in the Quality Grain Company scandal that led to the loss of more than $20 million to the state.