The former National Organiser of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has sued Media Organisation ABC News and its Managing Editor, Godwin Asare-Bediako for alleged defamation.
Kofi Adams in his statement of claim to the Court said ABC News published in its 27th June 2019 edition that he was under police investigation for embossing a wrong number plate on an alleged state-owned Toyota land cruiser V8 vehicle.
The number plate was said to actually belong to a Toyota Corolla saloon car, which owner’s name had been withheld.
The Land Cruiser V8 vehicle, according to the ABC News publication, was then used in a car rental business run by Kofi Adams.
This publication was said to have been repeated on other media networks.
In the suit, Mr Adams stated that the editor of the paper went further to repeat the aforementioned defamatory statements in an interview on NET2 Television, which contents have been made public on the Youtube social media channel of the TV station.
The publication said,
Kofi Adams in car fraud case …State V8 vehicle impounded’. Portions of the publications stated: “Kofi Adams, former National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is under police investigation for embossing a wrong registration number plate on an alleged state-owned Toyota Landcruiser V8 vehicle. The registration number GE 5215 – 19, which is being used by the V8, actually is for a Toyota Corolla saloon car (owner’s name withheld). The V8, which is alleged to belong to the state, is being used for car rental services by Kofi Adams for which reason ABC has learnt he is under investigation. ABC has sighted the impounded vehicle at the premises of the Airport Police Station. This paper learnt that the driver of the vehicle was confronted by a presidential staffer after which the car was parked at the police station. This is not the first time Kofi Adams is being embroiled in a controversy over alleged stolen state vehicles.”
But Mr. Adams says the publication has injured his hard-won reputation.
The suit filed by Mr Adams’ lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, at the Accra High Court on Friday, 12 July 2019, seeks a declaration that the words contained in the defendant’s publication are defamatory of his client’s character.
He added that by causing to be published falsely of and concerning his averments in the publication afore-stated, the defendants meant and were ordinarily understood to mean he is dishonest, unpatriotic, a fraudulent entity that uses deceitful, corrupt and unlawful means in his business and political dealings.
He wants the Court to order ABC News and its Managing Editor to apologise.