Edumadze’s counter claim thrown out with cost

A Cape Coast High Court finally got underway in the two-year defamation action against Isaac Edumadze, the Central Regional Minister, when a counter action suit filed by the Minister was thrown out with a ¢1.5 million cost last Thursday.

Presiding judge Mr. Justice Gyamera Tawiah reviewed the claim and defence lawyers representing Kofi Coomson argued that, the correct approach after all this time, was to have filed a fresh action against the claimant instead. Coomson's lawyers argued that since he had had to fly down to Ghana from London for the case and was now virtually marooned in Ghana, the court should consider the cost of his flight. But the judge would not have that and simply awarded ¢1.5 million cost against him.

Lawyer for Kofi Coomson submitted that as the most senior lawyer in Cape Coast, the offer of Edumadze's lawyers, Messrs Baduba and Joseph Ebow Dawson of ¢1 million as cost, was inadequate.

The Minister did not appear, as Parliament was sitting ,but plaintiff made an appearance and the court was told that 'we are ready with all our witnesses for the case to start immediately.' The judge however said he could not start the case as he had a full plate, but adjourned for the full hearing at the next hearing date.

The case has seen three judges, the last one who caused the case to slip into inaction was Mr. Justice Edward Mensah Boateng, formerly of a High Court at Denu, who is currently facing criminal prosecution for alleged bribery.