The High Court in Accra has granted bail to Larry Alans-Dogbey, Editor of The Herald newspaper, as he awaits the outcome of his appeal against a contempt of court conviction that resulted in a seven-day prison sentence.
Justice Isaac Addo of the General Jurisdiction 4 Division of the High Court granted the application on Friday, July 17, 2026, allowing Alans-Dogbey to remain on the same bail conditions previously granted on June 26 — a GH¢100,000 bond with two sureties.
His lawyers, led by Peter Okudzeto, informed the court that the bail application was filed on July 6 and served on the respondent on July 9, with no opposing documents submitted. Counsel for the respondent, Sean K. Poku, was absent when the matter was called, leading the court to grant the application based on the motion, affidavit and supporting documents before it.
Background to Conviction
Alans-Dogbey was convicted of contempt on June 25, 2026, after Justice Addo ruled that he had breached an interlocutory injunction connected to a civil case filed by businessman Kevin Okyere and Springfield Exploration and Production Limited.
The injunction, issued in June 2025, restricted Alans-Dogbey from publishing statements considered likely to damage Okyere’s reputation.
Grounds of Appeal
In his appeal filed on July 1, Alans-Dogbey’s legal team presented 13 grounds challenging both the conviction and the sentence, arguing that the case raises important issues concerning press freedom and constitutional rights.
The lawyers argue that the injunction itself violated the constitutional right to freedom of expression because it prevented publication before a court had determined whether the statements in question were defamatory.
They further contend that the order was unclear and that it was improper to punish Alans-Dogbey for violating an injunction whose wording was allegedly ambiguous.
The defence also argues that the trial court wrongly interpreted the publications as malicious, failing to properly consider Alans-Dogbey’s two decades of journalism experience, the public interest nature of his reports and his reliance on official documents from institutions including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ministry of Energy and UK court records.
His lawyers also challenged the comparison made between his case and the Montie 3 contempt case, arguing that the circumstances were different because Alans-Dogbey’s publications focused on issues of public interest involving business and state resources rather than attacks against the judiciary.
Another issue raised in the appeal concerns the alleged manner in which court documents were served on him. His lawyers claim that a WhatsApp screenshot used as proof of service was false and that he did not recognise the sender or the phone number involved.
The appeal also argues that the publications followed a 2026 Supreme Court decision involving Springfield Exploration and Production Limited and maintains that individuals involved in public resource matters should be open to scrutiny.
Alans-Dogbey’s lawyers are asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the conviction and sentence, declare the original injunction invalid, or replace the custodial sentence with a non-custodial punishment.
With bail granted, the Herald Editor will remain free while his appeal is considered by the Court of Appeal in Accra.
Source: citinews
