Kennedy Agyapong fails to show up in court

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has been summoned for the second time in a week by the Accra High Court after he allegedly described a Justice of the court as “stupid”.

Mr Agyapong was first summoned on September 9, this year to appear before the court yesterday in order to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt but he did not show up.

At yesterday’s hearing, the Presiding Judge, Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, issued a new summons order which requires the MP to appear before the court on Friday, September 18.

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Difficulties

It came up in court that the court’s bailiff could not serve the MP with the summons order as all efforts by the court including channelling the summons through Parliament to be served on the MP proved futile.

An affidavit of non-service filed by the bailiff, as read by Justice Wuni, stated that when the bailiff went to the MP’s office on September 9, the receptionist called the MP who spoke to the bailiff and asked him (bailiff) to take a snapshot of the summons and send it to him by phone.

The bailiff said the MP later called him to send the summons to Parliament instead.

Owing to the difficulties in serving the MP, the court registrar forwarded the summons order to the clerk of Parliament but the clerk in response said he was unable to serve Mr Agyapong, and requested the court, therefore, to find other means to serve the order on the MP.

Substituted service

In view of the difficulties mentioned above, Justice Wuni ordered that the summons be served on the MP through substituted service, a method of service allowed by law if personal service was proving problematic.

Per the orders of the court, the summons should be posted on the court’s notice board, as well as “a conspicuous place at Net 2 Television and Oman FM,” the MP’s media organisations and where he allegedly made the contemptuous statement.

Justice Wuni ordered that the summons should be at the designated places for three days, together with a hearing notice, while the MP must appear before the court on Friday, September 18.

Background

Mr Agyapong’s alleged comments was made in connection with a land matter in which Susan Bandoh and Christopher Akuetteh Kotei had sued him (Kennedy Agyapong), Ibrahim Jaja, Nana Yaw Duodu aka Sledge and the Inspector General of Police.

While the case was still at the Land Division of the High Court (Land Court 12), the MP allegedly scandalised the court on a programme aired on NET2 TV and Oman FM on September 2, this year.

A court order signed on September 9, by Justice Wuni said, "I hereby summon the said Kennedy Ohene Agyapong per a warrant issued under my hand and seal to appear before the High Court (Land Court 12) on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to show cause why he should not be severely punished for contempt, if the matters are proven against him to the satisfaction of the court."