Yaw Nsarkoh questions judiciary’s use of contempt powers, calls for independent prosecutor
Yaw Nsarkoh, a former Executive Vice President of Unilever for Ghana and Nigeria, questioned the Ghanaian judiciary's use of contempt powers. He spoke at a JoyNews and An Amalgam of Professionals event in Accra on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Nsarkoh argued that contempt should not be used to deter legitimate scrutiny of court decisions. He said judicial authority, like any public power, must remain open to critical examination and accountability. His concern centered on judgments that formally protect freedom of speech while imposing restrictions on what may be said afterward. He asked whether judges who act that way could be considered professionally irresponsible. Nsarkoh also called for an independent prosecutor to examine complaints involving judicial conduct. His comments make the limits of contempt proceedings and the accountability of judges the central issues raised at the event.
Former Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh, has questioned the judiciary’s use of contempt powers, arguing that the authority should not be used to discourage legitimate scrutiny of judicial decisions. Speaking at a JoyNews and An Amalgam of Professionals event in Accra on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Mr Nsarkoh said judicial authority, like any other form of power, must be subject to critical examination and accountability. “If judges sit in court, and this happened, I'm not making it up, it's not AI, if judges sit in court and write into judgment that we have freedom of speech, but not freedom after speech, why on God's earth should we be unsure whether such wanton abuse of power can be described as professionally irresponsible?” he asked.