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Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, the trial judge in the ongoing ambulance procurement case, has ordered lawyers and witnesses to refrain from commenting on the matter in the media. She warned that failure to comply could result in jail time for contempt, similar to the infamous ‘Montie 3’ case in 2016.
Journalists reporting on the trial have also been advised to avoid placing value judgments on the submissions of witnesses giving evidence.
The trial judge emphasized that continuous commentaries pose a security threat to the state and could compromise the integrity of the court proceedings.
“No lawyer or any other person involved in the case will make any statement, whether oral or written, with the potential to prejudice the ongoing case,” Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe ordered.
The Court of Appeal judge, also acting as a High Court judge in this trial, warned that she would be compelled to “apply the powers used during the Montie 3 trial” if parties fail to comply with the order.
In 2016, three pro-NDC communicators were jailed for four months after pleading guilty to charges of contempt for making indirect and conditional threats against the court.
Before issuing her order on Thursday, July 11, the judge referenced a July 3 interview by the third accused, Richard Jakpa, on JoyNews, where he commented on the ambulance procurement process, his lifestyle, businesses, and his relationship with Supreme Court Judge Justice Yoni Kulendi.
The judge noted that most comments made by lawyers and parties in routine interviews after hearings are “borderline in contempt.”
