The Accra High Court, General Jurisdiction, has found Mr Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), guilty of defaming Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy.
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.
The court has also awarded a cost of GH₵50,000.00 against him.
Dr Opoku Prempeh in June 2019, took Mr Gyamfi to court for defamation and wanted 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 MrGyamfi to retract and apologise for the defamatory statement within seven days after the judgement.
The plaintiff, in his statement of claim, averred that MrGyamfi had greatly injured his positive image by falsely linking him to one SeiduYakubu, aka “Mba”, an alleged ringleader in the kidnapping of Canadian girls in Kumasi recently.
Dr Prempeh, who is also 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 minister said in 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 Mr Prempeh, 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 has served notice of filing an appeal and an application for stay of execution to challenge the decision of the court. –GNA
