The Supreme Court of Ghana has quashed an arrest warrant issued against US-based social commentator Kelvin Taylor.
In a 4-1 majority decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the warrant issued by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour was procedurally flawed and violated Taylor’s right to a fair hearing.
The arrest warrant was issued in January 2020 after Taylor made comments on social media criticizing Justice Kyei-Baffour’s promotion to the Court of Appeal, alleging it was linked to serving the interests of the then-government.
The court held that Justice Kyei-Baffour erred by issuing the warrant without giving Taylor an opportunity to be heard, citing the legal precedent set in the case of Republic v. High Court (Land Division); Ex parte Mr. Ken Agyapong.
The ruling sets a critical precedent for freedom of expression and judicial boundaries, affirming that judicial instruments must be wielded with precision and not used to suppress dissent.
Kelvin Taylor was seen leaving the courtroom in high spirits, flanked by his legal team, after the ruling was delivered. He later reacted to the verdict on social media, stating, “The law is the law”.