KT Hammond, the minister of trade and industry, is happy that the Accra High Court dismissed the contempt complaint James Gyakye Quayson’s legal team had brought against him.
The Adansi Asokwa MP hailed the decision as a victory for free speech and admonished the Assin North MP’s legal team to review Ghanaian law before bringing forth another contempt case against anyone.
“The judge was very articulate to the point, very legal in her analysis, and very clear, and in the end, freedom of speech has been vindicated. I want the lawyers of Gyakye Quayson to understand that you don’t take KT Hammond to court as a victim as stated by his lawyer, Abraham Amaliba.”
“He [Mr Amaliba] stood here, at the forecourt of this very building and told the whole world that they decided to institute this application against me as a victim, and I am no one’s victim at all. They should go back and read the rudiments of the law.”
K.T. Hammond, as he is affectionately known, was accused of making remarks in a media interview that were thought to be detrimental to Quayson’s criminal case, who is accused of having dual citizenship.
On Thursday, October 19, 2023, the judge ordered that the case be dismissed because there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
The judge also decided that Hammond’s remarks were not meant to affect Quayson’s criminal case.
Meanwhile, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has personally donated GH160,000 to help those affected by the catastrophic water spill from the Akosombo Dam.
On Wednesday, October 17, Dr. Bawumia paid a visit to a few of the Volta Region’s affected communities in an effort to help the victims.
It was stated that Dr. Bawumia’s private donation was made to supplement the assistance the government has already provided to the victims who have been forced to relocate.
The Vice President offered his condolences and reassured the victims that the government was committed to both emergency relief and helping the affected people get back to their normal lives.
When I look into the eyes of our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers who are seated here, I see so much sadness. Their lives have been turned upside down as a result of what has happened,”Dr. Bawumia said.
