An Accra High Court has sentenced Managing Editor and Publisher of The Herald newspaper, Larry Dogbey, to seven days’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of contempt of court in connection with the newspaper’s reporting on a legal dispute involving businessman Kevin Okyere and Swiss commodities trader Petraco SA.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Isaac Addo.
Mr. Dogbey confirmed the conviction shortly after the judgment in a social media post, arguing that the newspaper had merely reported on a petition submitted by Petraco SA to several Ghanaian state institutions.
“Justice Isaac Addo of an Accra High Court has just convicted me and sentenced me to seven days’ imprisonment in the case involving Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA. The Herald Newspaper reported only on a petition filed by the multinational company with CID, EOCO, GIS, Attorney General etc. Ghana deserves better. Journalism is not a crime,” he wrote.
The contempt proceedings stem from articles published by The Herald regarding a petition lodged by Petraco SA against Mr. Okyere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (SEP).
According to Mr. Dogbey, the petition had been submitted to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and the Attorney-General’s Department.
The dispute reportedly led to Mr. Okyere’s arrest and detention in Dubai.
While the court handed down its ruling, the specific publications or actions that constituted the contempt were not immediately disclosed.
The conviction has sparked concern within Ghana’s media fraternity, with journalists and press freedom advocates closely watching developments surrounding the case.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed concern over the conviction and custodial sentence, describing the development as unfortunate and pledging to defend press freedom and the rights of journalists.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Association said it was seeking legal advice to determine its next course of action.
“In keeping with our mandate to safeguard press freedom and protect the rights and welfare of journalists, the GJA is seeking direction from its legal team to determine the appropriate course of action,” the statement said.
The Association urged journalists, media organisations and the public to exercise restraint in commenting on the matter while legal processes continue.
“We encourage all stakeholders to be circumspect in their commentary and to allow due process to take its course,” it added.
The GJA said it would communicate its considered position once consultations with its legal team are completed, adding that it stands in solidarity with Mr. Dogbey during the period.
