DECISION
APPLICATION FOR COMMITTAL FOR CONTEMPT
Introduction/Overview:
[1] Any conduct which interferes with or undermines the authority of the Courts and administration of justice is contempt of court. Oswald on Contempt 3rd Edition defines contempt of court at page 6 as:
“…..Any conduct that tends to bring the authority and administration of the law into disrespect or disregards, or to interfere with or prejudice parties, litigants or their witnesses during litigation”.
[2] The power of the High Court to punish for contempt is provided in S.10 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Articles 19(12) and 126 of the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana.
[3] It is pertinent to observe that Article 19 Clause 11 of the 1992 Constitution provides and emphasizes that no person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence is defined and the penalty for it is prescribed in a written law. However, the same Constitution, Article 19(12) empowers the court to pu…