The Editor of The Herald newspaper, Larry Dogbey, has been sentenced to seven days in prison by an Accra High Court over a publication relating to a dispute involving businessman Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA.
Mr Dogbey disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Thursday morning, stating that the ruling was delivered by Justice Isaac Addo.
According to him, the newspaper’s report centred on a petition allegedly submitted by Petraco SA to several state institutions, including the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and the Office of the Attorney-General.
He maintained that The Herald only reported on the existence of the petition and did not fabricate or misrepresent any claims.
In his post, Dogbey expressed disappointment over the court’s decision, arguing that the conviction raised concerns about press freedom in Ghana.
“Justice Isaac Addo for an Accra High Court, has just convicted me and sentenced me to seven days’ imprisonment… The Herald newspaper reported only on a petition filed by the multinational company… Ghana deserves better. Journalism is not a crime,” he wrote.
The sentencing has sparked attention within media and legal circles, given its implications for journalistic reporting on ongoing legal and investigative matters.
The case involving Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA continues to draw public interest, though further legal details surrounding the dispute were not immediately disclosed in the report.
