Why should I be subjected to this unending judicial harassment? – Ablakwa after winning appeal against Kusi Boateng

The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was not so enthused despite winning the appeal to overturn the High Court's decision that threw out the contempt suit filed against him by the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Kusi Boateng.

Reacting to the verdict of the Court of Appeals, in a post shared on Facebook on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the MP was worried about being subject to what he describes as 'judicial harassment' in his quest to safeguard the resources of the country.

He indicated that this 'judicial harassment' was taking a toll on his parliamentary duties to protect the public purse and state assets as well as deepen Ghana's democracy.

The MP pointed out that while he appeared before the court on all the days the case was heard, the person who filed the suit against him, Rev. Kusi Boateng, did not even appear before the court without any reprimand from the court.

"Even though we just secured another legal victory at the Appeal Court with the grounds of Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi struck out as incompetent and a GHS3,000.00 cost awarded against him, I have been reflecting on the state of our country, particularly as he keeps filing more appeals — why should an MP who only diligently and patriotically carried out his constitutional mandate of oversight be subjected to this unending avalanche of judicial harassment which is costing me precious time — time I could need for more parliamentary work to protect the public purse, protect state assets, and deepen democratic accountability.

"Meanwhile, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi never shows up in court and has never been held accountable for his double identity scam which a High Court Judge described as criminal conduct," he wrote.

The North Tongu legislator noted that the "judicial harassment" he is going through would not encourage other parliamentarians to perform their oversight responsibility.

"How does this disgraceful episode encourage more MPs to pursue diligent and fearless parliamentary oversight? Despite the deliberate frustrations, unfair harassment, and blatant impunity — I shall not give up," he concluded.

Background:

The Court of Appeal in Accra on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, rejected an application filed by Rev. Kusi Boateng, seeking to overturn the decision of the High Court to dismiss a contempt suit the pastor filed against Ablakwa.

According to myjoyonline.com, the Appeals Court panel of judges presiding over the case ruled that the grounds of appeal did not comply with the court's rules.

The court ruled that the grounds for the appeal were incompetent and inadmissible, dismissed the appeal and fined Rev Kusi Boateng GH¢3,000.

"The application was against the rules of the Court of Appeal, which state that the appellant must clearly state where the judge erred," the presiding judge is quoted to have said.

This is the third time the contempt suit against Ablakwa by Rev. Kusi Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, has been dismissed by a court.

The pastor initially filed a suit against the North Tongu MP at the Human Rights Court to prevent the lawmaker from discussing him in relation to the National Cathedral project, but it was dismissed.

He then proceeded to the High Court and faced another defeat.

BAI/NOQ

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