For the second time, Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, serving as an additional High Court judge, has cautioned lawyer Kwame Akuffo about displaying disrespect in court, this time extending the warning to include a State prosecutor.
The judge, overseeing the trial of Menzgold Ghana Limited’s CEO, Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM 1), emphasized that even if the lawyer boasts 100 years of experience at the Bar, he won’t hesitate to impose jail time for continued disrespect in open court.
Justice Owusu-Dapaah explicitly stated that not even President Akufo-Addo could intervene, except through a presidential pardon, indirectly alluding to the family connection between Kwame Akuffo and the President.
The warning came after a heated exchange between Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, and Kwame Akuffo, who had earlier clashed with the judge.
In response to the altercation, the judge asserted that he would not tolerate disrespect in his court and threatened contempt charges leading to imprisonment.
“Not even the President can sway my decision unless he exercises the Presidential Pardon,” cautioned Justice Owusu-Dapaah.
He made it clear that, despite any legal experience, failure to respect the court’s sovereignty might result in imprisonment.
Emphasizing the need for decorum and decency in court proceedings, the judge stated, “this is the atmosphere we must maintain in the courtroom.”