The Supreme Court of Ghana has quashed a bench warrant issued in 2020 for the arrest of US-based Ghanaian journalist Kevin Taylor.
The warrant had been issued by a High Court over alleged contemptuous comments made by Taylor against Justice Eric Kyei Baffour.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court declared that the bench warrant was unlawful and should never have been issued in the first place. The apex court ruled that the legal grounds for the warrant were not sufficient under the circumstances, effectively putting an end to a protracted five-year legal battle.
The case traces back to 2020 when Taylor, known for his outspoken and often controversial views on Ghanaian politics, made critical remarks regarding a case that was being heard by Justice Kyei Baffour. These comments were perceived by the High Court as contemptuous, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant.
Taylor, who resides in the United States, had been at the center of this legal standoff, which had sparked public debate about freedom of speech and the judiciary’s role in curbing criticism.
