Journalist and Editor of The Herald newspaper, Larry Alans Dogbey, has been granted bail a day after an Accra High Court sentenced him to seven days’ imprisonment for contempt of court over publications linked to a legal dispute involving businessman Kevin Okyere and Swiss commodities trading firm Petraco SA. The court had ruled that Dogbey breached an injunction restraining further reporting on the matter, but he was released on bail on Friday, June 26, pending the next stage of the proceedings.
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The High Court, presided over by Justice Isaac Addo, convicted Mr Dogbey on Thursday, June 25, after finding that he had failed to comply with an interlocutory injunction issued on June 11, 2025. The order barred further publications relating to the legal dispute between Kevin Okyere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (SEP), and Petraco SA.
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Court says injunction was deliberately ignored
The contempt proceedings arose from articles published by The Herald concerning a petition filed by Petraco SA against Mr Okyere.
During the hearing, Mr Dogbey argued under cross-examination that he had not been served with the injunction and was therefore unaware of the court’s directive to stop publishing stories on the matter.
Justice Addo rejected that defence, ruling that the editor had acted in deliberate defiance of the court’s authority.
In his ruling, the judge stated:
“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 court noted that its power to punish contempt is derived from Article 126(2) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 50 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004.
Justice Addo subsequently directed that a Warrant of Committal be issued to the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service to enforce the seven-day custodial sentence.
For more court and legal developments, read our latest coverage on Ghana’s judiciary and legal affairs.
Dogbey insists journalism is not a crime
Following the ruling, Mr Dogbey confirmed his conviction in a social media post and in comments to Citi Newsroom, maintaining that The Herald merely reported on a petition submitted by Petraco SA to state investigative agencies.
He wrote:
“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.”
On Friday, June 26, Mr Dogbey was granted bail, securing his release less than 24 hours after being committed to prison.
Related reads
- Accra High Court Explains Why Herald Publisher Larry Dogbey Was Jailed For Contempt
- How Contempt Of Court Works In Ghana And What The Law Says
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