Managing Editor of The Herald newspaper, Larry Dogbey, has expressed gratitude to colleagues, friends, family and members of the public for the overwhelming support he received following his imprisonment for contempt of court.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, June 30, Dogbey described the experience as one of the occupational hazards of journalism, while assuring supporters that he would continue to pursue the legal process after securing bail pending appeal.
“It’s the hazard of the job. We go through this all the time. But thanks to friends, family and people who have followed my work over the years and appreciated the level of dedication we put into it,” he said.
Dogbey also acknowledged the support of the media fraternity, particularly Channel One TV, saying he was deeply touched by the solidarity shown during the ordeal.
He revealed that the level of support extended to him by people from different backgrounds had exceeded his expectations.
“Good friends, lawyers, judges, politicians, the average policeman, prison officers everybody. I was shocked that people came out with that level of support,” he said.
Dogbey further confirmed that the legal process is ongoing, noting that he remains on bail pending the determination of his appeal.
“We are still going through the process. I’m on bail pending an appeal. The bail was granted ex parte, so we are supposed to file additional documents, after which they will be served. I want to say thank you to everybody for coming through for me. It was overwhelming,” he added.
Dogbey was granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties after being sentenced to prison for contempt of court by an Accra High Court. The bail is valid for 10 days pending the hearing of his appeal.
He was convicted on Thursday, June 25, by the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Isaac Addo, over publications relating to a legal dispute between businessman Kevin Okyere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (SEP), and Petraco SA.
The contempt proceedings stemmed from reports published by The Herald concerning a petition filed by Petraco SA against Mr. Okyere. The court held that Dogbey had breached an interlocutory injunction restraining him from publishing further reports on the matter.
Although Dogbey maintained during cross-examination that he had not been served with the court order prohibiting further publication, the court rejected the explanation and ordered his immediate imprisonment through a warrant of committal issued to the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service.
