Union Boss jailed for contempt

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court (FTC) on Monday jailed Mr Napoleon Kpoh, former General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) for one month for contempt.

The contempt suit was filed by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the ICU against Mr Kpoh to restrain him from holding himself as the General Secretary of the Union when his term of office ended in August, this year.

The court presided over by Mr Justice K A Ofori-Atta found the respondent guilty of the offence because the court had earlier restrained Mr Kpoh from holding himself as the Secretary General of the ICU and to hand over all items belonging to the Union to the Interim Management Committee (IMC).

It observed that contempt of court was a punishable offence and that failure to observe the court's orders could undermine the administration of justice and respect for the courts.

It said the fact that Mr Kpoh was present in court on that day and heard clearly the court's orders but went ahead to barricade the main entrance to the ICU offices showed his lack of respect for the court. It said the respondent also granted interviews to the media still holding himself as the General Secretary of the Union in contravention of the court's orders.

The court said Mr Kpoh also wrote to the bankers of the Union instructing them not to honour cheques from the NEC as well as instructing the Union's drivers when he had no mandate to do so. Those actions also smacked of disrespect for the court. The court said: "Because of the national dimension of the case, any attempt to disrespect the orders of the court by the respondent would bridge the confidence the public has in the court."

Mr Christoph K Coka, counsel for the respondent apologized to the court and pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client.

He said his client had obeyed the orders of the court by handing over the vehicle and keys to the offices of the Union to the NEC. Counsel said the call by the counsel on the other side to commit Mr Kpoh for contempt of court was pre-judicial.

However, Mr Albert Adaare, counsel for the applicants prayed the court to convict the respondent of contempt in order to retain the dignity and confidence of the public in the court.

The court had earlier restrained Mr Kpoh and Alhaji Ahmed Y B Salifu, National Chairman, from holding themselves out as officers of the Union.