[2022]DLHC11773 • October 13, 2022 • High Court
DR. MATTHEW OPOKU PREMPEH vs. SAMUEL GYAMFI
The Plaintiff, a distinguished medical doctor and politician, sued the Defendant, a lawyer and communications officer of the National Democratic Congress, for defamation. The Defendant, at a press conference, associated the Plaintiff with Seidu Yakubu Mba, alleged ringleader of kidnappers involved in a high-profile case concerning two Canadian students. The Defendant described Seidu Mba as a criminal and errand boy for the Plaintiff, thereby imputing criminal association and misconduct to the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff claimed this damaged his reputation and sought damages, retraction, apology, and injunction.
read moreINTRODUCTION I begin this delivery with a saying from Bill Gates, "that success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." The Plaintiff, with the following accolades, achievements, work experience and laurels as a member of Parliament for the Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana, Minister for Education of the Republic of Ghana, Member of various Standing Committees including Health, Appointments, Special Budget and Environment, Science, Technology, Innovation Committees, a Medical Doctor in the Republic of Ghana and the United Kingdom, was an active member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom, an alumnus of the Prestigious Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA has brought the present defamation action against the Defendant, a lawyer and the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress-Party. In his amended writ of summons and amended statement of...