THE REPUBLIC vs. ISAAC KWAME & 2 ORS.

RULING 1. INTRODUCTION [i] In REPUBLIC v NUMAPAU; EX PARTE AMEYAW II AND OTHERS [1999-2000] 1 GLR 283, the Supreme Court held: Contempt of court was constituted by any act or omission tending to obstruct or interfere with the orderly administration of justice or impair the dignity of the court or respect for its authority. However, since contempt was quasi-criminal and the punishment for it might take various forms, including a fine or imprisonment, the standard of proof required to sustain liability was proof beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, … the applicant had to first make out a prima facie case of contempt against each of the respondents before the court could turn to consider the defences put up by the respondents. [ii] Also, in the case of Republic v Nkansah, Supreme Court, 28 November 1995, (unreported) the power and authority of the Court was defined as follows: “The power of this court to commit for contempt is granted by article 126 (2) of the Con...