By Prince Ahenkorah
The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), has strongly condemned the sentencing of The Herald Editor, Larry Alans Dogbe, describing the High Court’s ruling as harsh, unreasonable and disproportionate.
Mr. Dogbe was convicted for contempt of court in the case of Kevin Okyere v. Larry Alans Dogbe, with the judgement delivered by an Accra High Court on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
In a statement issued shortly after the ruling, PRINPAG President David Tamakloe expressed the association’s deep concern over the conviction and sentence, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the substituted service, the disputed notice and the constitutional protections guaranteed to journalists under Articles 162 and 165 of the 1992 Constitution should have been carefully considered.
According to Mr. Dogbe, Justice Isaac Addo sentenced him to seven days’ imprisonment in a case linked to businessman Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Dogbe maintained that The Herald merely performed its journalistic duty by reporting on matters of public interest.
“The Herald newspaper reported only on a petition filed by the multinational company with the CID, EOCO, Ghana Immigration Service and the Attorney-General’s Department. Ghana deserves better. Journalism is not a crime,” he stated.
PRINPAG has therefore warned that the ruling could have far-reaching implications for media freedom in Ghana, describing it as a troubling precedent for responsible journalism and the constitutional right of the media to inform the public.
“Mr. Larry Dogbe is not only a senior journalist but also a respected member of our fraternity whose work has contributed significantly to public-interest journalism,” the association said.
The association disclosed that it is engaging Mr. Dogbe’s legal team to explore all available legal remedies, including the appropriate appellate processes, in a bid to challenge the judgement.
While reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law, PRINPAG stressed that journalists should not be subjected to punitive measures for carrying out their constitutional responsibility of informing citizens, particularly on matters involving public resources, governance and accountability.
The association further assured media practitioners and the general public that it would continue to monitor developments in the case and provide updates as necessary.