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NDC lawyer Nana Ato Dadzie who once mobilised people to demand the conviction of some journalists for contempt now says he has repented.

Nana Ato Dadzie who represented three pro-government communicators jailed for contempt said “I was Saul I am now Paul”.

He was referring to a story in the Bible in which a zealous Jewish theologian Saul who persecuted Christians later became an ardent follower of Christ and took on a new name Paul.

Nana Ato Dadzie was speaking on Joy FM Newsfile Satuday where he backed calls from government officials for a presidential pardon for pro-government communicators Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase at Montie FM, convicted and sentenced for contempt.

Nana Ato Dadzie said the sentencing was a harsh attempt to restrict freedom of expression.

Recounting the history of contempt, Nana Ato Dadzie said the law was first used in the 12th century to support the power of the feudal lords and kings. Contrary to criminal jurisprudence, in a contempt case, a “person is presumed guilty before he comes [to court]”, he said.

But offence has been expunged in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

“I have a problem with the custodial sentence for speech. [In] this country we are one step behind”, he said.

He said his view is “not because Montie people [his clients] have gone to jail”.

Tracing his advocacy against contempt, Nana Ato Dadzie said he took on the judiciary after four lawyers were cited for contempt in August 2011.
The Judges and Magistrates Association dragged the four lawyers including Raymond Atuguba, David Annan, and Larry Bimi to the General Legal Council following emphatic comments by the lawyers that the judiciary was corruption.

“I went to court. We issued a suit to challenge it, to say that you ought not to be punished in a certain way for the kind of statement you make”.
“I am fundamentally opposed to any attempt at muzzling freedom of speech” he maintained.

But in another lung into history, Nana Ato Dadzie was reminded of his role in the contempt hearing against journalists Kweku Baako Jnr and Haruna Attah.

On June 23, 1998, the editor for Accra Daily Mail; Alhaji Haruna Atta and Kweku Baako who worked with The Guide newspaper (now Daily Guide), were sentenced to 30 days in jail by a Court of Appeal.

They were found guilty of contempt after they published a story on then first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. She had sued the two journalists and their publications for stories about her sister joining the opposition New Patriotic Party.

Their publishers, Kinesic Publications and Western Publications respectively for The Weekend Statesman and The Guide, were fined ¢10million (GH¢ 1,000) each.

The veteran journalist Kweku Baako reminded Nana Ato Dadzie that he “actually organized their fanatics to come to the court of appeal. They formed the group, Friends for Rule of Law and came to the court and insisted that custodial sentences must be imposed”.

Another panelist on Newsfile, Egbert Faibille, asked Nana Ato Dadzie if as a lawyer, he had ever represented a client who cited an opponent for contempt.

The former Chief of Staff ignominiously answered, 'yes'.
He, however, maintained he was a changed man.

“You know the greatest apostle in the Bible Paul? I have changed from Saul to Paul,” he retorted. His co-panelists laughed.