NMC decides case between palaver, Afreh's family

The National Media Commission (NMC) has determined a complaint lodged with it against the Ghana Palaver by Messrs Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co, legal practitioners, on behalf of the family and widow of the late Justice Dixton Kwame Afreh, a former Justice of the Supreme Court.

The complaint was in respect of a publication that appeared in the Ghana Palaver of Friday, February 27 to Monday, March 1, 2004 edition captioned “Ghana Palaver Intelligence is it true that…”

The paper alleged further that on a recorded tape made by the medical official, Justice Afreh had confessed that he had not been the author of his final judgment and that somebody above fingered his judgment and he had no computer to alter the final judgment.

At the hearing, which the paper was not represented, despite several invitations and entreaties, counsel for Justice Alfreh's family and widow, Ms Rebecca Amoah Aboagye, denied the allegations and described them as unfounded, malicious, fabricated and intended to bring into disrepute and public ridicule the reputation of the late Justice Afreh.

The NMC, therefore, ruled in the absence of the Editor of the Ghana Palaver, based on evidence available, in accordance with Article 6 (3) of Legislative Instrument 1587.

The Commission, therefore, directed the paper to retract the story and render an ungratified apology to the family of the late Justice Afreh.

It said the apology and retraction should be published in two successive editions of the newspaper within 14 days after the release of the statement.