Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has filed a defamation lawsuit against Captain Smart, a popular host on Onua television and radio.
According to reports, Mr. Ofori-Atta took home 10% of Ghana’s $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund, which Captain Smart highlighted on one of his broadcasts.
Bright Okyere Adjekum, attorney for Ken Ofori-Atta, filed a petition in the High Court on Friday, June 2, stating that, On May 22nd, during the “Maakye with Captain Smart” programme, on Onua TV, Onua FM, and the internet, the defendant said, “Are you aware that Ken Ofori Atta has taken his 10% of the IMF money, When we get a loan, he takes ten percent.”
The attorney representing Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, claims that those statements are not only obviously false and completely made up, but were also intended to be slanderous towards the plaintiff.
The Writ said, in part, that the comments in question “are malicious and were clearly further intended to convey and would be understood to convey meanings that diminish the plaintiff in the minds of right-thinking members of society.”
Ken Ofori Atta in the lawsuit filed against Captain Smart demands “recovery of the sum of Ten Million Ghana Cedis (GHSI0,000,000.00) as general damages, including aggravated and/or exemplary damages for defamation for the libel uttered by Defendant.”
Among other reliefs seeks an apology for and retraction of the remarks complained of and particularized above. “An apology for and retraction of the words complained of and particularised,” and fourth, a “perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant whether by himself, his servants, agents, or assigns, from repeating similar or other defamatory words against the plaintiff.”
