A brother of the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, Prince Kamal-Gumah is demanding an unqualified apology from the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for allegedly defaming him.
In a letter announcing the demand directed at the chairman of the Vetting Committee, the lawyers for Mr. Prince Kamal-Gumah said the alleged defamatory comments were made during Mavis Hawa Koomson’s vetting by the Appointments Committee on February 18, 2021.
According to the letter, Mr. Ablakwa procured his picture from his social media page and displayed it during the vetting, which was captured by various television stations and Parliament’s Facebook page.
“Our instructions are that sometime on the 18th day of February 2021, his sister, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, a Member of Parliament and the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture appeared before the Vetting Committee of Parliament, for vetting. He intimates to us that on the said day, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, being a Member of the Vetting Committee displayed his picture, procured from one of his social media handles (which was captured by the cameras of the various television stations which covered the event), and also published live on the Facebook page of Parliament House, for the entire world to watch.”
They added that Mr. Ablakwa “portrayed him as an uncivilised, violent and barbaric person.”
“Our Client informs us that in asking his questions, as part of the vetting processes, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa not only used the picture in reference but also made comments which sought to cast a slur on our Client’s reputation and image, by portraying him as an uncivilised, violent and barbaric person.”
He is thus asking Mr. Ablakwa to “render an apology and retract the false and dangerous information circulated around the world about him.”
He also wants Mr. Ablakwa to “curtail the continuous damage to his reputation”.
“Accordingly, having been instructed, we implore you to take steps to urge Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa to redeem the sinking reputation and business fortunes of our Client, by rendering an apology and retracting the false and dangerous information circulated around the world about him.”
“Our Client wishes to emphasise that he takes cognizance of parliamentary immunities and privileges and as a result, accepts that his legal options are limited, however, he believes that steps can be taken by the Committee and or by the Hon. Member to prevent and or curtail the continuous damage to his reputation.”
