The Supreme Court has found a university law lecturer, Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte guilty of contempt of court.
This comes after the staunch NDC supporter initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of scandalizing the court but later changed it to guilty with an explanation and then finally guilty.
Prof Kpessa-Whyte caused a stir last week when he referred to the apex Court as a “Stupid Court.”
In a Twitter post, he also criticized the current state of Ghana’s judiciary, accusing it of partisanship and lacking common sense.
He, however, clarified that post saying he did not intend to denigrate the Supreme Court and offered his unreserved apology.
Nonetheless, the Supreme Court summoned him to explain why he should not be held in contempt for describing them in such a manner.
In court today, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, a five-member panel, presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu, convicted Prof Kpessah-Whyte on his own plea of guilty.
He is charged with scandalizing the Supreme Court, ridiculing the Supreme Court, and prejudicing the highest court of the land.
Earlier, Dr Justice Srem Sai, a lawyer for Kpessa-Whyte, pleaded for mitigation on behalf of his client and pleaded with the Lord Justices to temper justice with mercy.
He also promised that his client will never in his lifetime, commit such a blunder again and added that his client will commit himself to defend the integrity of the Supreme Court, the Justices of the Supreme Court, and that of the entire Judiciary.
Dr Srem-Sai also drew the attention of the court to the earlier apology and retraction of the said contemptuous comments by his client.
The court is currently in chambers to decide the fate of Prof Kpessa-Whyte after listening to the plea of mitigation by his counsel.
