The former Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, has stated emphatically that the jail sentence meted out to Stephen Atubiga and Ken Kuranchie by the Supreme Court over contemptuous comments will not stop criticisms of the court.
According to him, Kenneth Kuranchie, editor of the searchlight newspaper, was jailed for his conviction, principles and believes that should inspire all radio commentators to develop courage and confront the truth.
Managing editor of the searchlight newspaper, Ken Kuranchie and NDC’s Stephen Atubiga were both sentenced to ten and three days imprisonment respectively, for comments considered by the court to be contemptuous.
The court, prior to the imprisonment, had given final touchline warnings to all who twist, misrepresent, and speak ill of the court.
Stephen Atubiga was released on Thursday after serving his three day sentence whilst Kuranchie has a couple more days left to serve.
Speaking on Asempa Fm’s Ekosii-Sen on Friday, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo noted that Ken Kuranchie is paying the price for being principled, thereby urging all to emulate his courage.
He praised the ace journalist for being brave at the court, and ultimately paying the price for his conviction.
“I doff my heart out to Ken Kuranchie, his family, friends and all likeminded people who believe that he stood his ground as a man of conviction. As a journalist, you must always stick to what you believe in, and that is what Ken is paying the price for, so I bow to him. In his career as a journalist, some of these things may come his way, so he should be strong” he bellowed.
Anthony Karbo urged radio commentators to develop courage and criticize the court if the need arises because the fact that some people are charged for contempt does not mean that the court is above criticisms.
“The message must be clear that if Ken has been charged for contempt, it doesn’t mean that ordinary commentators on radio cannot be critical of the court. We must develop more courage, principle, conviction so that we can confront decisions from the court. I think the court itself needs it”.
He debunked claims by the public that Ken Kuranchie’s lawyers formed part of his being jailed, noting that: “this argument is flawed because Ken only stood his ground”.