A Ghanaian High Court, presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah, has awarded GHC 500,000.00 in damages against the national communications officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, in favour of Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
In 2019, Dr Opoku Prempeh, dragged Sammy Gyamfi, to court for defamation.
Dr Prempeh, popularly called Napo, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, wanted the court to fine Sammy Gyamfi GHC1 million for allegedly making defamatory statements about him.
Aside from the huge cash fine, the writ of summons filed on June 25 by Sarkodie Baffuor Awuah & Partners, said Dr Prempeh had asked the court to order Sammy Gyamfi to retract and apologise for the defamatory statement within seven days after the judgement.
Statement of claim
In the plaintiff’s statement of claim, he averred that Sammy Gyamfi had greatly injured his positive image by falsely linking him to one Seidu Yakubu, aka ‘Mba’, the alleged ringleader in the kidnapping of the two Canadian girls in Kumasi recently.
The lawyers said the defendant’s statement had dented Napo’s image both in Ghana and abroad, considering the fact that the said statement was widely captured in the media and other electronic platforms.
The statement said over his entire public and private life, Napo has led a decent lifestyle worthy of emulation and so Sammy Gyamfi had no justification to link him with miscreants to dent his image.
According to him, Sammy Gyamfi, by his statement, intentionally portrayed Napo as a person who supports thuggery, kidnapping and other illegal acts without any proof.
Plaintiff’s request
Therefore, lawyers for Napo prayed the court to restrain Sammy Gyamfi and his agents from further making or publishing defamatory words against him.
They also urged the court to order Sammy Gyamfi to apologize and retract the defamatory statement with the same prominence the defamatory words received within seven days after the judgment.
By court
In court Thursday (13 October 2022), Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah, in his judgment indicated that the plaintiff (Napo), has established that indeed Sammy Gyamfi by his comments defamed him (Matthew Opoku Prempeh).
The court awarded damages of GHC500,000.00 and restrain Sammy Gyamfi and and also ordered him and his agents from further making or publishing defamatory words against the Energy Minister.
The court also ordered Sammy Gyamfi, to apologise and retract the defamatory statement with the same prominence the defamatory words received within seven days after the judgment
