Kevin Taylor runs to court over “unlawful” arrest warrant
He further challenges the legal basis of the court’s action, stating that no prior summons was issued requiring his appearance, and that there is no law in Ghana that permits a person to be deprived of their liberty without first being heard
Ghanaian social media commentator, Kevin Ekow Taylor, has filed an application for certiorari at the High Court in Accra, seeking to quash a bench warrant issued for his arrest over an alleged contemptuous video published on Facebook.
The warrant was issued in 2020 by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as a High Court judge, who cited Taylor for allegedly scandalising the court and attempting to incite public hatred against the judiciary.
However, in his legal response, Taylor argues that the warrant was issued in breach of natural justice, as he was not given the opportunity to be heard before the court moved to order his arrest.
Details
The affidavit supporting his application notes that while the warrant was issued in the name of “Kelvin Taylor,” it is widely believed to be directed at him due to media discussions and public commentary pointing in his direction.
Taylor contends that the court failed to serve him with a copy of the video cited in the arrest order, denying him the opportunity to clarify whether the material was authentic, AI-generated, or taken out of context.
He argues that such omissions violate his constitutional right to a fair hearing and due process.
He further challenges the legal basis of the court’s action, stating that no prior summons was issued requiring his appearance, and that there is no law in Ghana that permits a person to be deprived of their liberty without first being heard.
Taylor, who is based in the United States and hosts the political talk show With All Due Respect on Loud Silence Media, has been a frequent critic of Ghana’s political and judicial establishments.
Background
The bench warrant stems from remarks Taylor allegedly made about Justice Kyei-Baffour in the context of a high-profile corruption trial involving former officials of the National Communications Authority (NCA).
In the video, he accused the judge of acting in the interest of the Akufo-Addo government, a claim the judge said was scandalous and an affront to the integrity of the court.
Justice Kyei-Baffour stated at the time that the remarks were designed to incite hatred and undermine public confidence in the judiciary and cited Taylor for contempt.
The warrant authorised security agencies to locate and arrest Taylor, despite his residence in the United States.
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