In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of Ghana has nullified a bench warrant issued in 2020 for the arrest of US-based Ghanaian journalist, Kevin Taylor. The warrant had been issued by a High Court in connection with alleged contemptuous comments made by Taylor against Justice Eric Kyei Baffour.
The apex court’s decision effectively concludes a five-year legal dispute, ruling that the initial warrant was unlawful and should not have been issued under the prevailing circumstances. The case stemmed from critical commentary Taylor had made regarding a case presided over by Justice Kyei Baffour.
The Accra High Court, in January 2020, had issued the bench warrant for the arrest of the social media commentator. The warrant, dated Thursday, January 16, 2020, by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, directed Taylor to appear before the court to explain why he should not be incarcerated for contempt.
This action followed a video circulated by Taylor on Facebook, which the High Court deemed offensive and detrimental to the administration of justice. Justice Kyei-Baffour issued the order ahead of the cross-examination of Eugene Baffour-Bonnie, a former Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA), who was one of five individuals on trial for allegedly embezzling $4 million from the NCA.
In the controversial video, Taylor accused Justice Kyei-Baffour of having been elevated to the Court of Appeal as a reward for allegedly acting in the government’s interest during the ongoing trial.
Delivering his ruling at the time, Justice Kyei-Baffour described Taylor’s comments as scandalous and a direct assault on the judiciary, asserting that they were intended to incite public disaffection toward the court.