The Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has sued popular hiplife artiste Kwame Asare Obeng, aka A Plus, for defamation.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful is seeking Gh₵c10m in damages from A Plus over certain comments he made against her in a Facebook post in relation to a contract awarded by the government to communications firm Kelni GVG.
A Plus in a comment posted on Facebook on May 23, 2018, described the communications Minister as “corrupt”.
He also claimed that “Mrs Owusu-Ekuful was involved in some shady deal and Kwesi Nyantakyi is only being sacrificed to cover up the $89/178m GVG Kelni stinking scandal.’’
No apology
Lawyer for Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, Mr Gary Nimako Marfo, on May 29, 2018, wrote to A Plus to retract the said comments and offer an unqualified apology, or else he would be dragged to court.
But A Plus in another fiery post on Facebook on the same day vowed never to apologise.
“If I apologise, Nimokafui, Ayetefrem, chalabin and Salafim should kill me. You think this is 2017. I only helped you win power. I’m not part of your nonsense. I am not afraid of anyone…’’, he said.
“Defamatory comments”
In her suit filed at the Accra High Court, the communications minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, says the defamatory comments by A Plus has “seriously damaged her reputation in public space, including social media, an act which has seriously affected her credibility as an astute lawyer, politician and public figure.’’
According to her, A Plus made the comments without any justification, and as such its publication “has portrayed her as a common criminal, rogue and has also exposed her to hatred and public ridicule.’’
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful also averred that A Plus’s insistence not to apologise, showed that he had shown no remorse and was bent on “deliberately tarnishing her image and reputation without any just and probable cause.’’
Reliefs
Apart from the Gh₵10 million in damages, the Communications Minister is, therefore, seeking a declaration from the court that A Plus’ publication on Facebook is libelous and defamatory’’.
She also wants an order from the court directed at A Plus or anybody acting on his behalf to desist from making any defamatory comments against her.
“An order of court directed at the defendant (A Plus) to retract the said defamatory publication and render unqualified apology in the same prominence on Facebook and other national newspapers.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful is also seeking an order from the court that would direct A Plus to “take immediate steps to expunge the defamatory publication from Facebook.’’
Asenso Boakye
Meanwhile, a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, has also threatened to sue A Plus for describing him as “corrupt” in the same Facebook comment dated May 23, 2018.
His lawyers have subsequently given the hiplife artiste a 7- day ultimatum to retract and apologise for the “malicious” and “false “comments.
“We have firm instructions to, without further notice to you and upon your failure, neglect to fully satisfy our client’s demands, take a suit and hold you liable,’’ Mr Asenso-Boakye’s lawyer, Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini sated in the letter.
Source: Graphic.com
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The rod used in whipping Baah will be washed, dried, polished and preserved to be used on Takyi............ "On you on person, on your friend, on wood!!! You are in court when you have been labelled as "corrupt" only once? I cannot tell if the whole NPP saw or caught NDC in any corrupt act to have sung or tagged NDC as corrupt. Worst of all is SAMIRA BAWUMIA singing "WHEN I SEE NDC, I SEE CORRUPTION, WHEN I SEE UNEMPLOYMENT, .............!!!! Today you are only called corrupt and you are demanding apology and sueing??? Mahama then deserves some serious apology!!!
She lost her credibility as an astute lawyer, politician and public figure LONG AGO. She shld NOT MAKE ME ANGRY by saying this has happened now
This A plus guy is really fuuuuling in this country. His sttuppidity has reached its peak. If he is not able to substantiate his allegations he must be dealt with drastically
take him to court. That small boy A plus has no sennnnse. he talks as if Ghana belongs to him.
I am happy this political liability who is singing like a bird in the rain forest has been dragged to court to prove his accusations. But no one should dare intercede on his behalf for out of court settlement, and if they do, the victims should not accept such out of court settlement. I will be very disappointed if the cases do not travel to their logical conclusions, and all damages pronounced enforced to the last pesewa.
Let the law take it course
When did you realize the use of court or you think you guys are untouchable. I am overwhelmed about the stance taken by Usurla and the rest including their lawyers. So if you call someone corrupt or incompetent then you run to court. then the NDC should have sued the entire NPP AND even today you continue to insult and call them names including being devils. Usurla come again and I am not too sure any competent court will entertain this nonentity. Why do you want to silent people and that we do not have the right to voice out where there are shady deals. The Deputy Minister moves from one radio station to the other and he thinks we are ***barred word***. I repeat you are CORRUPT. Join us in the suit.
Hahaaahaaaaaaaa so it is painful madam minister. The lions meat is finished now you are the meat. KARMA DEY WORK ROUGH. GM
John Mahama was a conman that was why he did not sue anyone for calling him corrupt.... Bus branding and Kanazoe ford bribe are just examples.
Ursula is not just a TH*IE*F but a pros*ti*tute as well.She will go to jail.We shall vote the NDC come 2020.