HON. DR. DOMINIC AKURITINGA AYINE vs. EVRON HUGHES [2023]DLCA16895

Date	2023-03-30
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H1/105/2021
Citation No.	[2023]DLCA16895

DZAMEFE SENYO J.A (PRESIDING)

MENSAH BRIGHT J.A.

BARTELS-KODWO J.A.

NUHELA SEIDU FOR APPELLANT

AMA ODUMA-ANNAN FOR RESPONDENT

[2023]DLCA16895
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&nbsp;

(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>

vs.<o:p></o:p>

(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>

[COURT OF
APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>

SUIT NO: H1/105/2021&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE:
30TH MARCH 2023<o:p></o:p>

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COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>

NUHELA SEIDU FOR
APPELLANT,<o:p></o:p>

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DZAMEFE SENYO J.A (PRESIDING), MENSAH BRIGHT
J.A., BARTELS-KODWO J.A.<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;border:none;
mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

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&nbsp;

BARTELS-KODWO (JA):-<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

This is an appeal from the decision of the High Court,
Accra dated 17th June 2019 which decision dismissed the Plaintiff/Appellant’s
(hereinafter called ‚the Appellant‛) action
brought against the Defendant/Respondent (hereinafter called‚the Respondent‛).<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

The Appellant, a politician, Member of Parliament for
Bolgatanga East, former Deputy Minister of Justice, a former lecturer at the
School of Law at the University of Ghana and
Managing Partner at Ayine &amp; Felli, brought the instant action against the Defendant alleging defamation by the
Defendant.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

By a writ of summons and accompanying statement of claim,
the Appellant sued the Respondent seeking the reliefs reproduced verbatim below;<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
i.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration that the publications pleaded at paragraphs 9 to 11 of the statement
of claim to the effect that the Plaintiff is corrupt, a thief and fraudulent
are defamatory to the Plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>