An Accra High Court has found the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, guilty of defaming the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
The court, presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah, awarded damages of GH₵500,000.00 against Mr Gyamfi, and ordered him to publish a retraction and an apology to the Minister.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh, in June 2019, dragged Mr Gyamfi to court for defamation, and urged the court to fine him GH¢1 million for defamatory statements against him.
Apart from the cash fine, the writ of summons filed on June 25, 2019, by Sarkodie Baffuor Awuah & Partners, lawyers for the plaintiff, had asked the court to order Mr Gyamfi to retract and apologise for the defamatory statement within seven days after the judgement.
Dent image
The plaintiff, in his statement of claim, averred that Mr Gyamfi had greatly injured his positive image by falsely linking him to one Seidu Yakubu, aka “Mba”, an alleged ringleader in the kidnapping of Canadian girls in Kumasi recently.
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South said the defendant’s statement had dented his image, both in Ghana and abroad, since the said statement was widely captured in the traditional media and other electronic platforms.
The statement said over his entire public and private life, he had led a decent lifestyle worthy of emulation, so Mr Gyamfi had no justification to link him with “miscreants” to dent his image.
According to him, Mr Gyamfi, by his statement, intentionally portrayed him as a person who supported thuggery, kidnapping and other illegal acts without any proof.
Meanwhile, Mr Gyamfi says his lawyers will file notice of appeal against the court’s decision.
He revealed that his lawyers would also file an application for stay of execution to challenge the decision of the High Court. He expressed the hope that justice would be served.
“It was worthy of note that the decision was only the ruling of the court of first instance and not final. I am determined to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion,” Mr Gyamfi added.
Credit: GNA
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