Dr Ayew Afriye sues Rev. Owusu Bempah for GH¢10m over alleged defamatory comments

Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has sued the Head Pastor of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, and the church over alleged defamatory statements made against him.

The writ, filed at the High Court in Accra, seeks damages of GH¢10 million over statements the MP claims were made by Rev. Owusu Bempah during a church service on September 6, 2026, and subsequently circulated on social media platforms.

According to the statement of claim, Dr Ayew Afriye is a medical practitioner and a third-term MP for Effiduase-Asokore on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He also served as Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee from 2021 to January 2025 and has since served as the Ranking Member of the committee.

The plaintiff claims that during the church service, Rev. Owusu Bempah made allegations suggesting that some NPP members, including Dr Ayew Afriye and others, were involved in a plan to attack him and his church.

The writ quotes Rev. Owusu Bempah as alleging that some individuals were planning to bring two busloads of people from the Ashanti Region to Accra as part of an alleged plan to attack the church.

The pastor is also alleged to have mentioned the names of several NPP figures, including Anthony Abayifa Karbo, Sammy Awuku, Opare Ansah and Ayew Afriye, as persons allegedly involved in the plan.

Dr Ayew Afriye, however, denies the allegations and maintains that he has never conspired with anyone, engaged any group of persons or attempted to organise an attack against Rev. Owusu Bempah or his church.

The MP argues that the statements were defamatory and were calculated to damage his reputation, integrity and standing as a medical practitioner, legislator and public figure.

He further claims that the allegations have caused him embarrassment and subjected him to public ridicule, while potentially affecting his political ambitions and standing among constituents in the Effiduase-Asokore Constituency.

According to the statement of claim, a video recording of the alleged accusations was subsequently published on various social media platforms, thereby widening the reach of the statements.

Dr Ayew Afriye says he subsequently warned Rev. Owusu Bempah on social media and called on him to retract the statements and apologise if he could not provide evidence to substantiate the allegations.

The MP claims that instead of retracting the statements, the pastor indicated on another media platform that he was prepared to face the matter in court.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to declare the statements defamatory and award him GH¢10 million in damages.

He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to retract the alleged defamatory statements and issue an unqualified apology on the same platforms on which the statements were published.

Additionally, Dr Ayew Afriye is asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making or causing to be made similar defamatory statements against him, as well as costs, including legal fees.

The writ was filed on September 11, 2026, by Ohene Gyan & Associates on behalf of Dr Nana Ayew Afriye.