3 Pro-NDC Newspapers Sued

Freddy Blay, a former MP in Ghana is owner of Western Publications Ghana Ltd, publisher of Daily Guide.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw OwusuMonday August 22, 2011.
Godfred Yeboah Dame of Kwakwaduam Chambers has filed three separate suits on behalf of Freddie W. A. Blay and Western Publications Limited, publishers of four newspapers including DAILY GUIDE a private daily newspaper, against three pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) newspapers, their editors and assigns for libel.

The first suit cites Kobby Fiagbe, Managing Editor of The Ghanaian Lens newspaper and Alfred Kojo Triddles and Albert Kojo Yeboah, spokespersons of an amorphous group which style itself as the NDC Media Analyst Group as the first, second and third defendants respectively.

The second suit cites Candrew Ventures publisher of The Informer newspaper and Andy Kankam Editor-in-Chief of The Informer as the first and second defendants while the third suit cites Prime Mark Company Limited, publisher of the The Herald as the first defendant.

The second, third and fourth defendants are: Larry-Alans Dogbey, Sedi Bansah and Abdul Razak Bawa, Managing Editor, Editor and author of the said libelous article respectively.

In the case of The Ghanaian Lens, the first plaintiff who is immediate past first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for 12 years is seeking relief of Three Million Ghana Cedis (GH¢3,000,000) damages for libel contained in two publications of Thursday August 4, 2011 with issue No 146 in the paper by the defendants.

The plaintiffs said the two publications were headlined: “Sodomy @ Daily Guide-Freddy Blay in Hot Waters As his lies catches up with him!!!” and another headline “Freddy Blay must not get away with Sodomy at Daily Guide.”

Other reliefs sought by the plaintiff are “an apology for and retraction of the words complained of, particularized in paragraphs 7 and 9 of the statement of claim” and another relief in the form “perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agent or from repeating similar or other libelous words against the plaintiff.”

In the case of The Informer, the plaintiffs are seeking relief totaling Three Million Ghana Cedis (GH¢3,000,000.00) damages for libel contained in the Wednesday August 3, 2011 to Thursday August 4, 2011 issue No of the paper by the defendants.

The plaintiffs said publication by the defendants was headlined: “Ellembelle Mugabe Opens Sodomy Academy @ Daily Guide…Nephew on the run after receiving best student award for sodomising infant.”

The other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs from the court are “an apology for and retraction of the words complained of, particularized in paragraph 7 of the statement of claim” and another relief of a “perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agent or from repeating similar or other libelous words against the plaintiffs.”

In the third suit, the plaintiffs are seeking reliefs of “General damages including aggravated and/or exemplary damages for defamation for libel contained in the Friday 5th August to Sunday 7th August, 2011 edition of ‘The Herald’, Edition 55/11.”

According to the plaintiffs publication by the defendants was captioned: “Daily Guide Sodomy Cover Up Exposed – As Victim’s Grandmother Tells The Full Story.”

The other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are “an apology for and retraction of the words complained of particularized in paragraph 7 of the statement of claim” and another relief in the form “perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agent or from repeating similar or other libelous words against the plaintiffs.”

In all the writ of summons the plaintiffs averred “the trial will so prove that, the words complained of were maliciously published of them and were particularly aimed at creating disaffection for them and destroying the reputation of Western Publications Limited as the leading private newspaper in Ghana.”

“Further, the publications in question are a grand conspiracy by the defendants herein and formed part of systematic efforts to discredit Mr. Freddy Blay and, to ruin his enormous political stature in the country,” the statement of claim said.

The said plaintiffs averred that in seeking aggravated damages they will contend that Kobby Fiagbe, Alfred Kojo Triddles and Albert Kojo Yeboah on one hand, Andy Kankam on the other as well as Larry-Alans Dogbe, Sedi Bansah and Abdul Razak Bawa in their respective publications “were actuated by malice, in that they knew the words complained of were false and defendants particularly did so, with the view to boosting sales and thereby increasing their profit.”

According to the plaintiffs, the said Ohene who is alleged to have sodomized a young boy is neither a nephew of the 1st plaintiff nor staff of the 2nd plaintiff.
As at the time of going to press, all the defendants in the three suits had been duly served with their respective writ of summons.