COLVIN OUT OF GHANA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28386, 19 September 1957, Page 13

COLVIN OUT OF GHANA

Will Return Only With Counsel

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON,. Sept. 18. The “Daily Telegraph” said today that it had instructed its special correspondent, Mr lan Colvin, who is now in Nigeria, not to return to Ghana pending further orders.

Mr Colvin was due to appear before the Kumasi Magistrate’s Court on Friday to answer a charge of “writing with intent to excite public prejudice.” The newspaper added in its statement that it was apparent that the exclusion of Mr Cnlvin’s counsel. Mr Christopher Shawcross, from Ghana, released him from any obligation to return to the country.

If the ban on Mr Shawcross were lifted, said the newspaper. Mr Colvin would re-enter Ghana with him in accordance with his undertaking. A spokesman for the Commonv ealth Relations Office said in London that a Note from the Ghana Government had been received and was being studied. “A reply will be sent from the United Kingdom Government,” the spokesman added. Reuter’s correspondent in Lagos said that Mr Shawcross had cabled the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union in London an appeal on behalf of the two Mos!ems. Alhadji Baba and Alhadji Lalemie. who were deported from Ghana last month. Mr Shawcross’s cable said in part: “As member of the InterParliamentary Union and also the Commohwealth Parliamentary Union, I call upon Ghana members to reverse the decision of their Government. which is designed to abolish freedom of the press, destroy supremacy of law. and is a negation of Parliamentary democracy.”