Herald Newspaper editor Larry Dogbey secures bail after contempt sentence

Journalist and Editor of The Herald newspaper, Larry Alans Dogbey, has been granted bail after spending time in custody following his conviction for contempt of court by an Accra High Court.

Mr. Dogbey was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment on Thursday, June 25, by Justice Isaac Addo after the court found that he had breached an interlocutory injunction related to ongoing publications about a legal dispute involving Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (SEP) Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Okyere, and Swiss trading firm Petraco SA.

The contempt proceedings arose from a series of reports published by The Herald on a petition submitted by Petraco SA against Mr. Okyere. According to the court, the newspaper continued publishing stories on the matter despite an order restraining further publications until the case was determined.

In delivering the ruling, Justice Addo held that Mr. Dogbey had deliberately ignored the court's directive, describing his actions as a wilful violation of a clear judicial order. The court subsequently directed that a warrant of committal be issued to the Ghana Prisons Service for the enforcement of the seven-day custodial sentence.

The judge stressed that contempt sanctions are designed to uphold respect for the judiciary rather than to protect the personal interests of judges.

"The punishment for contempt is not intended to massage the ego of the presiding judge," Justice Addo stated. "It is an essential mechanism to preserve the dignity, integrity and authority of the administration of justice."

The court further observed that journalists have a constitutional responsibility to promote respect for the rule of law, noting that media freedom does not extend to disregarding lawful court orders.

Justice Addo also criticised the language and headlines used in The Herald's publications, saying they appeared calculated to damage the reputation of the applicant. According to the ruling, the tone of the reports supported the court's conclusion that the injunction had been intentionally breached.

Although Mr. Dogbey argued during the proceedings that he had not been personally served with the injunction restraining further publication, the court rejected the explanation and concluded that the disobedience was deliberate.

Following the conviction, Mr. Dogbey announced the outcome in a social media post, maintaining that The Herald had merely reported on a petition lodged with state institutions, including the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and the Attorney General's Department.

He described journalism as "not a crime" and indicated that the conviction raised concerns about press freedom.

However, on Friday, June 26, the High Court granted Mr. Dogbey bail pending the next stage of the legal process.

The dispute at the centre of the contempt case remains before the court.