Supreme Court Quashes Kelvin Taylor’s Arrest Warrant in 4-1 Ruling, Sparking Debate on Media Freedom
The Supreme Court of Ghana, in a 4-1 decision on July 22, 2025, overturned an arrest warrant issued against social commentator Kelvin Taylor, known for his controversial online platform With All Due Respect.
The panel, led by Justice Imoro Amadu Tanko and including Justices Senyo Dzamefe, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Philip Bright Mensah, and Ernest Gaewu (who dissented), ruled in favor of Taylor’s application to cancel the warrant, filed on July 2, 2025. Taylor, visibly elated, left the courtroom with his legal team, celebrating the outcome.
The warrant, issued in January 2020 by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour of the Court of Appeal (sitting as a High Court judge), stemmed from contempt charges over Taylor’s alleged “extremely scandalous” statements accusing the judiciary of bias and linking Justice Kyei-Baffour’s promotion to political influence in a National Communications Authority case. The High Court had ordered the Ghana Police Service to apprehend Taylor, who resides abroad, for these remarks. Taylor argued that the warrant was invalid due to the court’s failure to grant him a chance to respond to the charges.
This ruling highlights tensions between judicial authority and freedom of expression, particularly for non-resident commentators like Taylor, who frequently critiques Ghanaian politics and institutions. The decision, with full grounds yet to be released, is expected to clarify the legality of such warrants and the procedures for contempt proceedings against individuals outside Ghana’s jurisdiction. It also follows Taylor’s history of legal battles, including a 2020 defamation case where he was ordered to pay GHS1 million to Gabby Otchere-Darko.
The outcome is likely to fuel discussions on media freedom, the regulation of online commentary, and the challenges of enforcing local legal decisions internationally, while underscoring the judiciary’s role in balancing free speech with accountability.
