General News of Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Source: joyonline

My name was not mentioned in court - NPP scribe

General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, claims he is unaware he has been cited for contempt by the Supreme Court.

According to him, until he is summoned, he cannot answer questions bothering on alleged contemptuous comments.

President of the panel of judges hearing the election petition, Justice William Atuguba on Monday, mentioned Sir John as the likely architect of a contemptuous audio being played on radio.

He made reference to a front-page publication by the Enquirer newspaper in which the audio had been transcribe into a story.

Even though they are unhappy with summons to court of alleged contemnors, Atuguba said the judges have been left with no choice but to invite people to answer for extremist comments.

The NDC’s Stephen Atubiga and Editor of Daily Searchlight newspaper, Ken Kuranchie were jailed 3 and 10 days respectively over some contemptuous comments after the court issued a final warning.

With the hints given by Atuguba, it is likely the NPP General Secretary will be invited to answer similar charges.

But speaking on Asempa FM’s current affairs talk-show programme Ekosii-Sen on Monday, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie insisted that though he was in court today, he can confirm that his name was not mentioned in court.

“I didn’t hear my name was mentioned in court today. I am only hearing it from you for the first time. I was in the court but never heard my name was mentioned over making contemptuous comment. I heard them mentioning a certain Sir John, but I didn’t know it was me so I won’t say anything for now.” he bellowed.

Sir John, as he affectionately called, asserted that if indeed he is been cited for contempt of the court, he will be invited formally “so let’s all wait for that day”.

When host of the show, Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA), attempted to play the voice of justice Atuguba to him, Sir John refused, responding that: “please I can’t listen to it now because in this technological age, anyone can doctor a voice purporting to be yours so let’s wait for me to be called first”.