The High Court in Accra has rejected contempt charges brought by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, against North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Lawyers for Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng filed the contempt charges after the MP was seen refusing to be served with court documents connected to a defamation claim launched against him and kicking the paperwork with his foot.
Rev. Kusi Boateng has sued the NDC legislator for allegedly working under another person, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, and for producing publications implying a conflict of interest.
However, the court dismissed the contempt charges on Tuesday because the bailiff was not a certified member of the judicial service.
According to the Judge, the Chief Justice instructed in 2021 that writs be served solely by personnel of the Judicial Service. However, the court noted that because the alleged bailiff is not a member of the Judicial Service, the process cannot be considered legitimate.
The lawsuit was also dismissed on the basis that the purported bailiff did not follow procedures for serving a member of parliament who is on parliamentary duty or on his way to parliament, as stated by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on February 3, 2023.
In his judgement, the Judge further stated that the petitioners did not establish the contempt allegation beyond a reasonable doubt since there were contradictions in the evidence put before the court.
The lawsuit was dismissed by Justice Charles Gyamfi Dabkwah, and Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng was fined GHC10,000.
