Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
An Accra High Court, General Jurisdiction, has found Nathaniel Dekyi also called Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV of Dompim Pepesa in the Western Region and the Multimedia Group Limited guilty of defaming the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
The court, presided over by His Lordship Richard Apietu, in its ruling in February this year, awarded damages of GH¢1 million against the defendants.
Mr. Darko-Mensah, in October 2022, dragged the two defendants to court for defamation and wanted the court to fine them GH¢1 million for defamatory statements against him.
The writ of summons was filed on October 14, 2022 by Parkwood & Mossane, lawyers for the plaintiff.
The plaintiff, in his statement of claim, averred that the first defendant is a self-styled chief of Dompim Pepesa, who also goes by the name Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, while the second defendant is a corporate entity duly registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana and is engaged in the business of media and entertainment.
Plaintiff noted that on October 10, 2022, the defendant granted an interview on the Joy FM Super Morning Show, owned and operated by the second defendant, in which interview the first defendant made spurious allegations against his person.
According to the plaintiff, the first defendant in the said interview alleged that the plaintiff, together with two other government officials, was involved in illegal mining or “galamsey” in the Dompim Pepesa area of the Western Region.
The plaintiff said after the interview on the second defendant’s Joy FM Super Morning Show, the second defendant published the defamatory material of the first defendant on its website, which platform is assessed by patrons and readers from all walks of life from all over the world.
“The wild allegations by the first defendant and published by second defendant, are absolutely false, baseless and unwarranted,” the plaintiff added.
Plaintiff disclosed that the first defendant is also noted to have stated that he has incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of plaintiff and the others in illegal mining activity in the Dompim Pepesa area, but failed to provide the said evidence.
Plaintiff said that he has, over the years, built for himself an enviable reputation in his private, political and professional life, and that the said publication has greatly dented his image.
Plaintiff indicated that the defendants refused to retract and apologise for the defamatory statements.
The plaintiff further pointed out that unless compelled by the court, the defendants would have persisted in the defamation.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
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