Sir John Was Possessed By ‘Gbeshie’—Ayikoi Otoo

NPP General Secretary, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie

What will make a lawyer with 32years of experience on the bench insult judges of the highest court of the land, threatening them with death as well?

The question becomes even more relevant if that lawyer issues the threats after the Supreme Court issued its final (touchline) warning to all and sundry that it will deal ruthlessly with anyone who tries to bring its name into disrepute or undermine its authority.

The behaviour of such a lawyer becomes bizarre if he insulted and attacked the judges of the Supreme Court the very day the court sentenced two others to various jail terms for being in contempt of the court.

These were the questions that raced through the heads of not only decent-minded Ghanaians but also the nine judges of the Supreme Court when the NPP's General-Secretary, Kwodwo Owusu Afriyie, a.k.a Sir John, appeared before them on Wednesday with his tale in-between his legs to show why he should not be committed to prison for contemptuous behavior towards the court.

Sir John had in the evening of Wednesday, June 26, 2013 on Oman FM, launched a blistering foul attack on the Presiding judge of the panel of nine judges hearing the 2012 election petition case. He also threatened them with death. Incidentally, his verbal attack and threat of death came a few hours after the court had jailed two others for contemptuous behavior towards it.

One of the judges, Justice Dotse, with Sir John standing before them, asked his counsel, Ayikoi Otoo, whether he enquired from him (Sir John) the cause of his behavior. In reply, Ayikoi Otoo said Kwodwo Owusu Afriyie was possessed by Gbeshi, a spirit that one has no control over when he is possessed.

Gbeshie is the Ga word for evil spirit and this, according to Aykoi Otoo, was responsible for Sir John's comment.