An Accra High Court, General Jurisdiction, has found Nathaniel Dekyi also called Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV of Dompim Pepesa in the Western and the Multimedia Group Limited guilty of defaming the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
In its ruling in February this year, the court presided over by His Lordship, Richard Apietu, awarded damages of GH₵1,000,000.00 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 that the first defendant is a self-styled chief of Dompim Pepesa, who also goes by the name, Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV. In contrast, 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, Defendant granted an interview on the Joy FM Super Morning Show, owned and operated by the 2nd 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.
Plaintiff said after the interview on the second Defendant’s Joy FM Super Morning Show, that 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 the second Defendant, are false, baseless and unwarranted” the Plaintiff added.
Plaintiff stated 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,
The plaintiff indicated that the Defendants refused to retract and apologize for the defamatory statements.
The plaintiff further pointed out that unless compelled by the court, the Defendants would have persisted in the defamation of the Regional Minister.
