Kwesi Pratt defends Supreme Court’s ruling on Kevin Taylor bench warrant

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has weighed in on the Supreme Court’s decision to quash the bench warrant issued for U.S. based Ghanaian journalist Kevin Taylor, describing the ruling as a matter of legal process rather than political protection.

According to Kwesi Pratt Jnr, he is not defending Kevin Taylor, but rather acknowledging that the Supreme Court has ruled on the matter and its decision must be respected.

The court, in a 4-1 majority decision, dismissed the bench warrant on grounds that it lacked merit. He believes the ruling was made in accordance with the law.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana July 23, 2025, monitored by nsem360.com, Kwesi Pratt Jnr said “if anyone believes the law has been violated, there are legal avenues to seek redress. However, he personally does not see any breach of the law in this situation”.

The arrest warrant was issued in January 2020 by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, then a High Court judge, after Taylor made comments deemed contemptuous. He had publicly accused the judge of political bias during the trial of former National Communications Authority (NCA) officials, drawing sharp criticism from the bench.

Justice Kyei Baffour considered Taylor’s remarks as scandalous and an affront to the court’s authority, prompting the bench warrant.

However, in its ruling, the Supreme Court found the warrant to be unlawful and a violation of due process. The majority held that while criticism of the judiciary must be measured, it should not be silenced through punitive actions that override constitutional freedoms.

The court emphasized the importance of protecting free speech, especially within the context of public commentary and media expression. Only one of the five justices dissented.

Taylor, who resides in the United States, returned to Ghana recently to challenge the warrant. His legal team argued that the move to arrest him was excessive and breached his rights.

By: Evelyn Naadu Borquaye