NDC helped Sir John pay his GHC 5,000 fine – Desoso

Vice Chairperson of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Anita Desoso has revealed that members of the party contributed hugely to raising the GHC 5,000 fine imposed on former General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John, by the Supreme Court during the 2012 Election Petition hearing.

The apex Court of the land during that novelty hearing of the election petition slapped a fine of GH¢ 5,000 on Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (a.k.a Sir John), General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after it found him guilty of intentional contempt.

He was to deposit the money with the Court within 24 hours or in default serve a six-month jail term.

Sir John was reported to have made disparaging comments about the Justices of the Supreme Court that were deemed to be contemptuous.

Mr Justice William Atuguba, President of the Panel, before passing the sentence, asked Sir John whether he had something to say and he replied that he is hugely humbled by what has happened.

Justice Atuguba reading the sentence noted that considering Sir John’s admission of guilt and the prevailing mitigation efforts by the Peace Council and the plea by Mr Ayikoi Otoo, his Counsel, the Court had been reluctantly constrained from imposing a custodial sentence on the contemnor.

He said the Court, however, could not overlook the fact that Sir John had been a lawyer for 32 years and the General Secretary of a political party. Sir John was made to sign a bond of good behaviour and in addition asked to retract and apologize within 24 hours on the platform on which he made the contempt charges.

Speaking on Okay FM Wednesday, Anita Desoso who was commenting on the recent Supreme Court sentencing of the trio in the Montie 3, recalled how members of the swiftly came to the aid of Sir John in his difficult moments.

“Several NPP members wanted him jailed, it was rather we in the NDC who were eager to support him. We offered him help because we knew that as human beings we could also go wrong along the line one day. When it was time to raise funds to pay the fine charged by the court, NDC members contributed monies to ensure he was not not jailed.”