The Accra High Court has clarified that the sentence imposed on journalist and publisher of The Herald newspaper, Larry Dogbey, following his seven-day imprisonment for contempt, is not intended to “massage the ego of the presiding judge.”
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, June 25, 2026, by Justice Isaac Addo. The contempt proceedings stem from articles published by The Herald concerning a petition filed by Petraco SA against Kevin Okyere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (SEP).
According to the court, Mr. Dogbey failed to comply with an interlocutory injunction restraining him from further publishing statements relating to the dispute between Mr. Okyere and Petraco SA.
The court explained that the punishment was meant to preserve the dignity, integrity, and authority of the administration of justice, and to serve as a deterrent to others.
“It is not meant to massage the ego of the Presiding Judge. Rather, it is an essential mechanism to preserve the dignity, integrity, and authority of the administration of justice. As a journalist, the Respondent has a heightened civic duty to promote the rule of law, not to actively subvert it.
“The media’s constitutional freedoms under Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution do not constitute a license to treat lawful orders of a court of competent jurisdiction with contempt.
“To vindicate the authority of this Court and to serve as a deterrent to others who may believe they are above the law, this Court cannot gloss over this wilful disobedience. Accordingly, the Respondent, LARRY ALANS DOGBE, is hereby sentenced to seven (7) days’ imprisonment in prison custody.”
Click here to read the full judgment by the court
The court also raised concerns over the tone and headlines used in The Herald’s publications, saying they demonstrated an intent to undermine and tarnish the reputation of the applicant.
“Considering the nature of the language used (e.g., calling a case an ‘albatross’ and using sensationalist headlines) demonstrates a clear intent to undermine and tarnish the Applicant’s reputation. Courts often interpret injunctions based on the natural and ordinary meaning of words.
“The headlines and accompanying stories are inflammatory, and this Court will not be wrong to infer an intent on the part of the Respondent to tarnish the reputation of the Applicant within society. The Court therefore finds that the Respondent failed to comply with the Order for Interlocutory Injunction made on 11th June, 2025, and that his disobedience was deliberate and wilful.”
Despite Mr. Dogbey’s argument during cross-examination that he was not served with notice to cease further publication, Justice Isaac Addo ordered that a Warrant of Committal be issued immediately to the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service or his designated officers to enforce the sentence.
The court further stated that Mr. Dogbey had flagrantly disregarded its authority.
“Despite this clear and unambiguous judicial directive, the Respondent willfully, contumaciously, and in flagrant disregard of the authority of this Court proceeded to breach the said Order of 11th June, 2025. The power of this Court to punish for contempt is grounded in Article 126(2) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 50 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004.”
It added: “Let a Warrant of Committal be issued immediately to the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, or his designated officers, to carry this sentence into effect.”
Mr. Dogbey earlier confirmed the conviction in a social media post and in comments to CitiNewsroom.com.
“Justice Isaac Addo of an Accra High Court has just convicted me and sentenced me to seven days’ imprisonment in the case involving Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA. The Herald newspaper reported only on a petition filed by the multinational company with CID, EOCO, GIS, the Attorney General, etc. Ghana deserves better. Journalism is not a crime,” he wrote.
