By Daniel Bampoe
The Supreme Court in a 4-1 majority decision, set aside a bench warrant issued in January 2020 for the arrest of US-based Ghanaian broadcaster, Kevin Taylor.
The court, presided over by Justice Omoro Issifu Tanko, ruled that the warrant issued by then High Court judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour (now a Court of Appeal judge), violated Taylor’s right to due process.
The ruling came after Taylor’s lawyers filed a certiorari application, arguing that the warrant was granted without affording their client a hearing.
Kelvin Taylor, who appeared in court in person for the ruling, has long been a controversial figure due to his hard-hitting political commentaries, often targeting Ghanaian officials and institutions.
The sole dissenting voice in the Supreme Court decision came from Justice Ernest Gaewu.
The court’s decision has reignited political tensions, with fresh allegations emerging over Taylor’s recent arrival in Ghana, despite the existence of the warrant prior to its revocation.
Allegations of State-Facilitated Entry and Protection
Just days before the Supreme Court ruling, Member of Parliament for Assin South and former Deputy Education Minister, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, claimed that Kevin Taylor had been smuggled into Ghana under state protection.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Fordjour alleged that Taylor arrived on a United Airlines flight from Washington, D.C. and was received at Kotoka International Airport by operatives of the National Security.
According to Fordjour, Taylor was whisked through Gate 19 of the VVIP lounge—normally reserved for top government officials—and escorted to the official residence of the Vice President, which remains unoccupied as Vice Presidential Prof.
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang resides in her private home, at Tsa Addo, Labadi.
“These are not speculations. I have the information. A fugitive was welcomed on the tarmac by state operatives and escorted to the Vice President’s house. This is an abuse of state power,” Fordjour stated emphatically.
Paul Adom-Otchere Echoes Claims
The claims were later echoed by veteran broadcaster and host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, who directly accused three top government officials—Defence Minister Dr. Omane Boamah, Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, and National Security Coordinator COP Abdul Razak Osman—of aiding Taylor’s movements and shielding him from arrest.
On his show, Adom-Otchere alleged that the officials facilitated Taylor’s entry, deployed National Security operatives to escort him, and assigned state vehicles—identified as a black Toyota with registration GE 1660-17 and a Toyota Hilux with registration UE 553-23—for his travels within Ghana, including a trip to Cape Coast.
“This is a dangerous precedent,” Adom-Otchere warned. “We cannot have a situation where individuals wanted by the courts are offered protection by the very state apparatus meant to uphold the law.”
He compared the situation to the infamous Montie Three case, in which three media personalities were jailed for contempt of court in 2016, questioning why Taylor had not faced a similar fate.
Government Silent, Defence Minister Denies Knowledge
Despite the widespread allegations, the government has yet to issue an official response.
However, when questioned by journalists, Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah brushed off the concerns, stating that he was not an Immigration Officer and therefore could not speak to Kevin Taylor’s arrival or whereabouts.
His remarks sparked outrage from some sections of the public, with critics calling his response evasive and irresponsible, given his position as head of national security coordination.
“You are the Minister of Defence,” one critic said, “You can’t tell Ghanaians a fairytale. If a fugitive like Kevin Taylor entered this country with state protection, then the security of the state has been compromised.”
Attorney-General’s Absence in Court Raises Eyebrows
Adding to the controversy was the conspicuous absence of the Attorney-General’s office during the Supreme Court proceedings. Not only did the AG’s office fail to file an opposition to Taylor’s certiorari application, but it also did not enter an appearance in court.
This has fueled speculation that Taylor’s return and subsequent legal victory were politically orchestrated.
Critics argue that the government is emboldening individuals who attack the judiciary and other institutions with impunity.
Political Implications
Taylor’s controversial return, coupled with the Supreme Court’s ruling and the absence of action from the Attorney-General, is seen by many as part of a broader political game ahead of the 2024 elections.
With the National Democratic Congress, NDC defending itself against accusations of shielding Taylor, and the ruling NPP using the situation to question the Mahama-led administration’s commitment to the rule of law, the saga has added fuel to an already heated political atmosphere.
The narrative now oscillates between the legality of the Supreme Court’s decision and the morality of state officials allegedly shielding a known fugitive who once had an active arrest warrant.
For now, Kevin Taylor walks free—legally vindicated, but politically entangled in a web of secrecy, security manipulation, and divided national opinion.
