ZOGLI AND ANOTHER vs. GANYO

The respondent sued after defamatory statements were made by the second appellant, a schoolboy, alleging that the respondent’s daughter was not his biological child and that the respondent gave his wives to other men to bear children. The first appellant later admitted that he had told his son the matters repeated by the son. Following the incident, the parties met before a third party to resolve the dispute. At that meeting, the first appellant apologized and agreed to provide pacification consisting of ¢40.00, one live sheep, half a piece of white calico and a bottle of rum/schnapps, and he paid ¢10.00 on account. The settlement was further sealed by drink and reported to Kwadwo Agavi, before whom additional customary formalities were performed. Two days later, however, the first appellant reported to the police that the ¢10.00 had been extorted from him, and the respondent then commenced civil proceedings to recover damages/enforce the agreed customary award. Portion of judgment: “After all this discussion, the respondent agreed to accept £G20 ¢40.00, a sheep, half a piece of white calico and a bottle of rum as pacification from the appellant and this was agreed to by the appellant. Five pounds ¢10.00 was there and then paid as part payment...” and “Two days later, the appellant reported to the police that the respondent had extorted £G5 ¢10.00 from him... The result was this action.”