The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has described the conviction and sentencing of The Herald newspaper’s Managing Editor, Larry Alans Dogbe, for contempt of court as harsh, unreasonable and disproportionate.
The association said the High Court’s ruling “is harsh, unreasonable, and disproportionate, especially given the circumstances surrounding the substituted service, the disputed notice, and the broader constitutional protections afforded to journalists under Articles 162 and 165 of the 1992 Constitution.”
In a statement signed by PRINPAG President, David Tamakloe on Thursday following the judgment in the case of Kevin Okyere v. Larry Alans Dogbe, he said he was deeply concerned about what it considers a troubling precedent for media freedom and responsible journalism in Ghana.
It announced that it is engaging Mr. Dogbe’s legal team to explore all available legal remedies, including the appellate process, to challenge the conviction.
“PRINPAG is actively engaging his legal team to explore all available remedies, including the appropriate appellate processes, to rectify what we consider a troubling precedent for media freedom and responsible journalism in Ghana,” the statement said.
The association described Mr. Dogbe as a respected senior journalist whose work has made significant contributions to public-interest journalism.
It reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law but insisted that journalists should not face punitive sanctions for carrying out their constitutional responsibility of informing the public, particularly on matters involving public resources and accountability.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law while also insisting that journalists must not be subjected to punitive measures for performing their constitutional duty to inform the public, particularly on matters involving public resources and accountability,” the statement noted.
PRINPAG further stated that it would continue to monitor developments in the case and keep the media and the public informed as necessary.
