Ex-Minister Sues NDC Guru

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi
Former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Peter Anarfi-Mensah has initiated a legal action against Mr. Samuel Awuni, the Ahafo-Ano North constituency chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The suit, marked A5/1/16, was filed at the Tepa Circuit court on May 3, 2016.  It is seeking general damages of GHC50,000 against the defendant party executive.

Mr. Kofi Iddrissah, counsel for the plaintiff, is also seeking an order of injunction to restrain the defendant from making any further publication or repetition of the defamatory matter against his client. A 20-point statement of claim filed by the Sunyani based law firm, Kofi Iddrissah and Associates, contended that on April 20, 2016 the defendant had defamed the plaintiff to the effect that Mr. Anarfi-Mensah had contracted one Adams to kill him (defendant).

The statement said this defamatory remark made in the presence of the District Chief Executive, Mr. David AddaiAmankwah, the Krontihene of Tepa and some party executives, in an attempt to resolve a misunderstanding between the defendant and Adams, who happened to be a former driver of the plaintiff.

The counsel explained that the defendant had issued the defamatory statement to declare a hard stance taken by him to decline settlement efforts by the delegation. It was further explained that the said defamatory statement was baseless and a well calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the plaintiff as he is regarded as a murderer and useless person in the eyes of the Tepa community and the general public.

The plaintiff averred that the defendant has vowed to broadcast the defamatory remarks based on falsehood hence the need to restrain the defendant per the law suit.