An Accra High Court has ordered the National Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, to pay GH¢500,000 in damages for a defamatory comment he made about Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Energy of Minister.
The High Court, Accra, General Jurisdiction 12, presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah, in a judgment delivered on 13th October 2022, in the case of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh v. Sammy Gyamfi finds that Sammy Gyamfi defamed Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy and MP for Manhyia South constituency.
It was stated that Sammy Gyamfi, at a press conference in June 2019, stated that Seidu Yakubu MBA, suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of the two Canadian girls in the year 2019, is the errand boy of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
The court has therefore awarded damages of GHC 500, 000.00. He is also asked to publish a retraction and an apology to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who doubles as a Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
Background
In June 2019, Sammy Gyamfi, at a press conference in June 2019, stated that Seidu Yakubu MBA, suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of the two Canadian girls in the year 2019, is the errand boy of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
National Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi vowed never to apologize to Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh after linking him to recent an arrested kidnapper.
The outspoken politician called the bluff of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South stressing he does not owe the Minister any apology for a purported defamatory statement he’s made.
This comes after lawyers for Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh wrote to Mr. Sammy Gyamfi demanding a retraction of what they said was a defamatory comment linking the Minister to one of the accused persons in the Canadian women kidnapping case.
Dr Prempeh, popularly called Napo, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, wanted the court to fine Sammy Gyamfi GHC1 million for allegedly making defamatory statements about him.
Aside from the huge cash fine, the writ of summons filed on June 25 by Sarkodie Baffuor Awuah & Partners, said Dr Prempeh had asked the court to order Sammy Gyamfi to retract and apologize for the defamatory statement within seven days after the judgment.
