This legal dispute centers around a defamation lawsuit filed by Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing South Dayi, against another MP, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who represents Assin South. The crux of the matter lies in a social media post made by Rev. Fordjour on the platform X (formerly Twitter), which Mr. Dafeamekpor alleges contains false and damaging accusations against him.
The controversy stems from a broader scandal involving the former Director of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, who is facing charges related to the alleged misappropriation of GH¢49.1 million. During legal proceedings, Mr. Adu-Boahene claimed that he disbursed funds to members of two parliamentary committees – the Defence and Interior Committee and the Subsidiary Legislation Committee – during the legislative process concerning the NSB Act and its accompanying Legislative Instrument (L.I.). Rev. Fordjour’s social media post specifically implicated Mr. Dafeamekpor, the Vice Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, alleging his involvement in receiving GH¢360,000 from Mr. Adu-Boahene to influence the passage of the L.I.
Mr. Dafeamekpor vehemently denies these allegations, characterizing them as baseless and designed to tarnish his reputation and harm his career. He contends that Rev. Fordjour’s post has caused him significant economic hardship, disrupted his professional activities, and inflicted emotional distress due to the wide dissemination and persistent availability of the accusations online. The lawsuit argues that the statements were made with malicious intent to portray Mr. Dafeamekpor as corrupt and susceptible to bribery.
The legal action seeks several forms of redress. Primarily, Mr. Dafeamekpor is requesting a court order compelling Rev. Fordjour to retract the defamatory post and issue a public apology. This retraction aims to mitigate the damage already caused by the widespread circulation of the accusations. Additionally, the lawsuit petitions for a perpetual injunction to prevent Rev. Fordjour from making any further defamatory statements about Mr. Dafeamekpor, ensuring long-term protection against future reputational harm. Furthermore, an interlocutory injunction is sought to restrain Rev. Fordjour from commenting publicly on the matter until the legal proceedings are concluded. This temporary measure aims to prevent further escalation of the dispute and potential prejudice to the ongoing legal process.
The lawsuit emphasizes the severity of the alleged defamation, highlighting the potential impact on Mr. Dafeamekpor’s personal and professional life. The claim for damages reflects the alleged financial losses, reputational damage, and emotional distress suffered as a consequence of the accusations. The suit underscores the importance of protecting one’s reputation against false and malicious statements, particularly in the context of public figures whose careers and livelihoods depend on public trust and perception.
This defamation case unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing legal proceedings against Mr. Adu-Boahene, who faces serious charges related to financial misconduct. The intersection of these two legal processes adds another layer of complexity to the situation. While Mr. Adu-Boahene’s claims about payments to parliamentary committees form the basis of the allegations against Mr. Dafeamekpor, the defamation suit focuses specifically on the publication and dissemination of these allegations by Rev. Fordjour. The outcome of both legal proceedings could have significant implications for all parties involved, including Mr. Dafeamekpor, Rev. Fordjour, and Mr. Adu-Boahene. The defamation suit underscores the importance of responsible communication, particularly on social media platforms, and the potential legal consequences of making false and damaging statements about others.
