Accra: Mr Larry Alans-Dogbey, Editor of The Herald newspaper, has lodged an appeal against his conviction and subsequent seven-day custodial sentence for contempt of court. Mr Alans-Dogbey, who is the second defendant in a civil suit filed by businessman Mr Kevin Okyere and Springfield Exploration and Production Limited, was found guilty by the General Jurisdiction Division of the Accra High Court on June 25, 2026, for breaching an interlocutory injunction.
According to Ghana News Agency, the notice of appeal, submitted on July 1, 2026, by Mr Peter Okudzeto, counsel for the appellant, outlines 13 grounds challenging both the conviction and the sentence. Mr Okudzeto contends that the case raises significant constitutional issues related to freedom of expression and media freedom. The appeal argues that the interlocutory injunction, which was issued in June 2025, unlawfully restricted the publication of statements 'intended to undermine and tarnish' Mr Okyere's reputation before any determination could be made on the defamation claims.
The appeal further claims that the injunction imposed an unconstitutional prior restraint on free expression and effectively decided the substantive defamation dispute, contrary to the trial judge's assertion when granting the injunction. Additionally, it argues that the injunction was too vague to be enforceable, highlighting that the trial judge acknowledged the vagueness during the contempt proceedings.
Mr Okudzeto emphasized that the contested publications were based on official documents, such as a petition to the Economic and Organised Crime Office, correspondence from the Ministry of Energy, and documents from proceedings in a United Kingdom court. These reports were published following the Supreme Court's February 2026 decision in a related case involving Stena Unicon Offshore Services Ghana Limited and Springfield Exploration and Production Limited.
The appeal underscores that Mr Okyere, being a businessman involved in transactions concerning state oil and gas assets, is a public figure whose activities are subject to legitimate public scrutiny. It also alleges that a WhatsApp screenshot used by the respondent as evidence of service of court processes was fabricated, asserting that Mr Alans-Dogbey neither knew the individual who allegedly served the processes nor owned the telephone number used, and maintained that such conduct would constitute a fraud on the court.
The applicant is requesting the Court to overturn the conviction, annul the seven-day custodial sentence, and declare the interlocutory injunction dated June 11, 2025, as void and without legal effect. Alternatively, if the conviction is upheld, the applicant seeks a substitution of any custodial sentence with a non-custodial punishment and any additional orders the Court may deem appropriate.