Sam Jonah�s Lawyers Bare Teeth At Editor�Over Defamatory Publications

AKUFO-ADDO, PREMPEH & CO. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS & NOTARIES PUBLIC Our Ref.: AAPC/KBA/VOB/2011/0223 14th September 2011 The Managing Editor, The Herald, Accra. Attn: Larry- Alans Dogbey Dear Sir, Re: DEFAMATORY PUBLICATIONS IN RESPECT OF SAMUEL ESSON JONAH, KBE, OSG We act for Samuel Esson Jonah, KBE, OSG. On the 5th day of September, 2011 you published on pages one (1) and five (5) of the Monday, 5th day of September, 2011 to Thursday, 8th day of September, 2011 edition of �The Herald� newspaper an article entitled: �Sam Jonah in big trouble for demolishing One million dollar house.� The story referred to our client. It was alleged by you in the publication that our client had �procured� a Supreme Court judgment, in a matter between him and one Lord Duodu Kumi, by eliciting the �services �of the late Chief Justice E. K. Wiredu. You further described the execution of the judgment of the High Court, which had been confirmed by the Supreme Court, by our client as a �Rambo-style� adventure. On the 9th of September 2011, you continued your scandalous publication by publishing at pages one (1), five (5) and Fourteen (14) in your Friday, 9th day of September 2011 to Sunday, 11th day of September 2011 edition of �The Herald� newspaper an article entitled: �One Million Dollar House Demolition...SAM JONAH IS VICIOUS.� This article also referred to our client. The second publication repeated the untidy �Rambo-style� that you attribute to our client. You further insinuated in the second publication that our client is envious of successful people and that at all material times he had �paid� journalists to libel the said Lord Duodu Kumi. Interestingly, you claimed in rather absurd manner that our client had taken over the �house� of Lord Duodu Kumi and razed same to the ground. A cursory search at the Lands Commission would have shown you that our client is the owner of the property. As a matter of fact both articles were published on the internet (i.e. Ghana Web) with space provided for public comments. It is also important for you to note that the entry on the said premises as well as the execution of the judgment was carried out by officials of the Judicial Service in extreme good faith and on the basis of the judgment of the High Court. Needless to say, due process was followed. There was no order of the Court restraining our client from executing the judgment of the Court. The ruling of Justice Dapaah that you strenuously quote is a subject matter of appeal. Perhaps if you were not so much imbued with malice, our client�s side of the story would have been sought. It is a matter of regret that you deliberately seek to create the impression that at all material times, attempts were made to reach our client on a cell phone with number 0244 989012. Our client does not own that number, has never used the said number and does not know the owner of the number. As ever in these matters, falsehood litters every path of your story. Interestingly, in further amplification of your malice, reference is made to a matter in which you make the false claim that our client litigated over a UTC property with one Dr. Nii Narku Quainor. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a matter of record that the said Dr. Nii Narku Quainor was a tenant of the property then owned by UTC Ghana Limited. Having defaulted on his rent obligations UTC Ghana Limited filed suit. Our client was not a party to this suit and yet the impression is created that he orchestrated the take-over of the property. We must reiterate that the said Dr. Nii Narku Quainor was pursued by UTC Ghana Limited for defaulting on his rent obligations. It was UTC that evicted him on the basis of a Court judgment and not Sam Jonah. Once again, a cursory investigation will have unearthed these facts. In the circumstances, our client requires from you as a matter of urgency a full and unequivocal public retraction and apology in terms to be approved by us, and an undertaking not to repeat these allegations. We have also advised him that he is entitled to substantial compensation for the injury to his reputation and feelings, as to which we invite your proposals. Our client will also require payment by you of all the legal costs he has incurred in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you without delay. If we have not received a satisfactory reply within a week from the date of receipt of this letter, our instructions are to issue a writ against you. In the meantime, our client reserves all his rights. Thank you. Yours faithfully, Kwame Boafo Akuffo (Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co.) CC: The National Media Commission Accra Attn: The Executive Secretary Ghana Web B. V. Daal wijkdreef 47 1103 AD Amsterdam Netherlands. Samuel Esson Jonah, KBE, OSG No. 8 Abokobi Road East Cantonments Accra