Owusu Bempah 'Fights' Ibrahim Mahama Over GH¢300k Defamation Cash

The Communication Director of Ghana Gas, Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah, has appealed a decision by a High Court to award GH¢300,000 against him in a defamation suit filed by Mr. Ibrahim Mahama.

Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah, in an Appeals Court suit filed today, Thursday October 30, 2019 said the High Court Judge, Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, erred when she ruled on October 18, 2019 that his comments defamed Mr. Mahama.

“The trail Judge erred when she held that the words spoken by the 1^st Defendant in the heat of passion on a political discourse between the 1^st Defendant and the NDC panelist was actionable in defamation suit”

The learned trail Judge erred when she failed to properly evaluate the evidence before the court in totality considering the derogatory statements made by the NDC panelist against the 1^st Defendant which led to the statement uttered by the 1^st Defendant,” Mr. Bempah said in his statement of claim to the Appeals Court.

The CEO of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama, last year sued the Communications Director of the Ghana National Gas Company along with the Despite Group of Companies – owners of private TV station UTV last year for defamation.

The presiding Judge, Justice Georgina Mensah Datsa (High Court, Accra) ruled on October 18, 2019 that Mr. Bempah has defamed Mr.Mahama and awarded GH¢300,000 against him(Bempah).

"Ernest Owusu Bempah by publishing those words directed at the person of Ibrahim Mahama, he has defamed him. I shall proceed to grant judgment in favour of the Plaintiff, Ibrahim Mahama. As we move towards next year's election, we need to be guided," Justice Georgina Datsa said.

But Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah insists his comments on UTV were not defamatory.