We’ll ensure Kpessa Whyte propagates integrity of the court – Law School Director
Director of the Ghana School of Law Yaw Oppong has assured the Supreme Court that he will join others to monitor NDC’s Prof Kpessa Whyte to ensure that he propagates the integrity of the Supreme Court.
Mr Oppong made a last-ditch plea for the court to be lenient with Prof Whyte who had just been convicted of contempt.
This was at the point the court was about announce the punishment to impose on him.
Prof Whyte was dragged to the court on contempt charges following series of comments he had made on social media. They included;
“The highest Court of the Land has been turned into ‘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.”
“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.”
He was asked to appear at the Highest Court of the land on May 30 to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt of Court for scandalising the Supreme Court, bringing into ridicule the dignity, respect, and stature of the Supreme Court and Inciting prejudice against the Supreme Court.
Prof Whyte’s lawyers led by Dr Justice Srem Sai on Tuesday assured the court he will not attack the courts in such a manner but rather propagate the integrity of the court.
“We pray for the mitigation of sentence. My lord, immediately the matter was brought to his attention, he did issue a clear unreserved apology which we have accordingly brought to the court’s registry, addressed to the acting Chief Justice. He has taken steps to have the apology published on the front page of the Ghanaian Times an apology to the court.
“It is our humble prayer, in all humility, we plead for mercy. We are also undertaking that such a sad and regrettable occurrence will not ever again. We commit to defending the integrity of this honourable court,” Dr. Sai stated.
This was after Prof Whyte had pleaded guilty to the offence. The court went on recess to consider which punishment to impose. The Director of the Ghana School of Law Yaw Oppong asked to address the court when it returned.
“Yaw Okode3 Oppong speaking as a friend of the Court for plea in mitigation. I have received the statements that were authored by the contemnor. I did not speak earlier because you were on the seat of justice but now you are on the seat of mercy so I’m adding a few words to what my learned friend has said especially when he has promised to be an evangelist for propagating integrity and good name of the judiciary.
I pray that you consider this matter with the leniency that the seat of mercy permits and some of us will monitor and ensure he does his own undertaking to propagate the integrity of the judiciary.” Mr. Oppong state.
The court cautioned and discharged the academic. A member of the panel Justice Professor Henrietta Mensah Bonsu had some advice for the convict.
“A lot of people look up to you and so don’t lead them into temptation. I hope this experience will shape your life. We don’t expect you to join a choir of praise, but if you need to share something, you should put forward critiques if you have the information, nobody expects you to agree with us. We actually want to be criticised just like any institution in a democratic setting”.
Source: Ghana News
