Ardorye begs for clemency; my comments were nasty

A member of the opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP) communications team, Hopeson Adorye, who has been cited by the Supreme Court for acting contemptuously, has admitted that comments he made on Time FM in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, were unpalatable and distasteful.

He, however, maintained the comments followed a "provocative" statement allegedly made by Gabby Assuming, a member of the communications team of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr. Adorye was quoted as saying that "the NPP will ... go on a head cutting spree, cutting off the heads of NDC supporters should the Supreme Court declare President Mahama the winner...the NPP will not accept the verdict of the Supreme Court if Akufo-Addo is not declared winner since others in the NDC have also said there will be civil war if the Supreme Court rules in favour of Akufo-Addo".

The panel of judges at the Supreme Court hearing the election petition subsequently considered the statements to be scandalous and have subsequently charged him with contempt.

He has been ordered to appear in court on Wednesday August 14, and show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt for scandalising the court, defying and lowering its authority as well as exciting prejudice and ill will towards the 1st and 3rd respondents in the case.

But Mr. Adorye regretted on Badwam on Adom TV Monday and pledged not to repeat such comments.

Meanwhile, the court has also ordered Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the General Secretary of the NPP for referring to Justice William Atuguba, president on the panel as "a hypocritical joker" and "frowned like a voodoo deity", while granting an interview on Oman FM in Accra.