NDC’s Kpessa-Whyte Faces Supreme Court Today

A political scientist and member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte, is expected to appear before the Supreme Court today, May 30, 2023.

The University of Ghana (UG) senior lecturer will be seeking to convince Ghana’s apex court why he should not be punished for contempt of court for allegedly scandalizing and bringing into ridicule the dignity, respect and stature of the court, as well as inciting prejudice against it.

The two-time failed Shai-Osudoku constituency NDC parliamentary aspirant will be accompanied by his preferred lawyer for legal support.

Recall that last week, the court issued summons to the political science lecturer over series of tweets he allegedly made on social media site, Twitter.

He is alleged to have authored the tweets on May 19, 2023, which were contemptuous and scandalous.

In his tweet, he reportedly criticized the current state of Ghana’s judiciary, accusing it of partisanship and lacking common sense.

The tweets, which were allegedly deleted before the issuance of the summons, read “The highest Court of the Land has been turned into a “Stupid Court.”

“They have succeeded in turning a Supreme Court into a Stupid Court. Common – sense is now a scarce commodity.”

“A major element in the death of democracies is partisanship in the delivery of justice.

Our judges need lessons in political philosophy and ethics. “Time will tell.”

His alleged tweet was made after the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records because of procedural breaches during his nomination as Assin North parliamentary candidate for the NDC during election 2020.

Attached to the summons were copies of a series of publications by various portals arising from Prof. Kpessa-Whyte’s tweets.

Apology

But even before he appears before the apex court, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte issued an unqualified apology, explaining in his statement that his tweets were not in any way related to the Assin North judgment.

According to him, the attribution of his tweet to the Assin North matter by news portals was inaccurate.

He maintained that, his tweet had no linkage whatsoever with that controversial issue and that he had no knowledge of it as at the time he tweeted.

“I have observed that Ghanaweb and other media publications sought to associate my tweet with the decision of the SC in the Assin North matter, as stated on the face of the summons to show cause, but honestly at the time of my tweet, I had no knowledge of the SC’s decision as at 9: 59a.m. when I did the tweet,” he argued.

“I hereby retract the tweet in question; accordingly, the tweet has been deleted completely and pray for forgiveness,” an apology letter signed and issued by Prof. Kpessa-Whyte stated.

Even though this is the first time a contempt case is being brought against Prof. Kpessa-Whyte, it is not the first time he will be coming before the Supreme Court.

In 2021, the lecturer, who was one of the two officials who represented the NDC in the Electoral Commission (EC) Strong Room for the 2020 general elections, appeared before the apex court after the opposition party petitioned the court over that election.

He, together with Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, served as witnesses for the NDC in that in famous “I was offered tea, I wasn’t offered any biscuit” commentary.

Source: Anchorghana.com