In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Ghana’s Supreme Court overturned an arrest warrant issued against US-based social media commentator Kevin Ekow Taylor, declaring that the process violated principles of natural justice.
The 4-1 majority decision, delivered by Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu and supported by Justices Senyo Dzamefe, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, and Philip Bright Mensah, held that Taylor was denied his right to be heard before the warrant was issued. Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu was the sole dissenter. The warrant, initially issued in 2020 by High Court judge Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, had demanded Taylor’s appearance to explain why he should not be jailed for contempt over a Facebook video criticizing the judge’s handling of a high-profile corruption case.
The controversy stemmed from Taylor’s 2020 Facebook post, where he alleged that Justice Kyei-Baffour was promoted to the Court of Appeal as a reward for favoring the government in the trial of five individuals accused of embezzling $4 million from the National Communications Authority (NCA). Justice Kyei-Baffour, then presiding over the case, deemed Taylor’s comments scandalous and an affront to the judiciary, prompting him to issue a bench warrant for Taylor’s arrest. The warrant, directed at Ghanaian security agencies, remained active for five years despite Taylor never being apprehended, as he resided outside the country.
The Supreme Court’s ruling brings finality to the prolonged legal battle, reinforcing the importance of due process in contempt cases. While the court did not rule on the merits of Taylor’s original comments, its decision underscores that judicial powers must be exercised fairly, even in matters involving criticism of the judiciary.
The ruling has sparked discussions on the balance between free speech and judicial authority, with many hailing it as a victory for accountability and procedural justice. For Taylor, the verdict marks the end of a five-year legal ordeal, though the broader debate over media freedom and judicial independence in Ghana continues.
