The High Court in Accra has ordered activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor to pay GHC5 million in general damages to former National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah in a defamation suit stemming from bribery allegations.
Although Kan Dapaah had sought GHC10 million in damages, the court reduced the amount by half. Delivering judgment, Justice (Rev.) Joseph Owusu Adu-Agyeman ruled that all reliefs sought by the plaintiff were granted, except for the full compensation claim, which was adjusted to GHC5 million. The court further awarded costs of GHC100,000 against Barker-Vormawor.
Before the ruling, lawyers for Barker-Vormawor, led by Baffour Gyau Bonsu Ashia, applied for the relisting of their Statement of Defence and Witness Statement, which had previously been struck out. The court dismissed the application, describing it as inconsistent with procedural rules.
The case arose after Barker-Vormawor, convener of the FixTheCountry Movement, alleged that officials from National Security had offered him $1 million to halt his activism against the government. Kan Dapaah strongly denied the claim and proceeded to file a defamation suit while serving as National Security Minister.
In his suit, Kan Dapaah sought GHC10 million in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an apology, retraction, and a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant from repeating similar allegations.
The court’s ruling brings closure to the high-profile legal battle, affirming that the allegations were defamatory while reducing the quantum of damages originally demanded.
