Two journalists from the weekly “The Free Press” were sentenced to jail by the Supreme Court on 21 February 1995. Kwabena Mensah- Bonsu, a columnist for the weekly, was sentenced to one month in prison. “Free Press” editor-in-chief Eben Quarcoo was sentenced to one day in jail and fined 100 000 cedis (equivalent to 550FF […]
Two journalists from the weekly “The Free Press” were sentenced
to jail by the Supreme Court on 21 February 1995. Kwabena Mensah-
Bonsu, a columnist for the weekly, was sentenced to one month in
prison. “Free Press” editor-in-chief Eben Quarcoo was sentenced
to one day in jail and fined 100 000 cedis (equivalent to 550FF
or 95$US). The publishing company of the newspaper, Tommy
Thompson Books Ltd, was fined 300 000 cedis (1750FF or 286$US).
The journalists were charged with “contempt of court” after “The
Free Press” published an article accusing the President of the
Supreme Court, Judge Isaac Kobina Abban, of having falsified
court records of a particular hearing. Both journalists were
imprisoned, and Kwabena Mensah-Bonsu continues to serve out his
sentence.
On 27 February, the Ghanaian Barrister Association (GBA) called
for lawyers to strike and is demanding the resignation of Judge
Isaac Kobina Abban.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Ghanaian authorities:
for having exercised their right to free expression and performed
their duties as journalists
Mensah-Bonsu
Appeals To
Jerry Rawlings
President of the Republic of Ghana
Box 1627
Accra, Ghana
