Court commands bank to pay 310k from Ghana Gas PRO's account to Ibrahim Mahama over defamatory comments

Kandey Alhassan January 21, 2021 0

 

The National Investment Bank has been ordered by the High Court in Accra to pay Ghs310,000 from Ghana Gas Public Relations Officer Ernest Owusu Bempah's account to business mogul Ibrahim Mahama.

Court documents sighted online show that Owusu Bempah at the NIB and the court operates account number 1035087022871, having convicted the defamation defendant, ordered that the amount be paid.

The court held that if the amount in the account is lower than the award for defamation, the entire account should still be vacated.

 Ernest Owusu Bempah, Communications Director of Ghana Gas Company Limited and Despite Group of Companies were slapped with a defamation suit in October 2019 by the same Accra High Court with a Gh-300,000 fine.

The Court, chaired by Justice Georgina Mensah Datsa, ruled that the comments made on UTV Despite Media by the outspoken politician were defamatory of Ibrahim Mahama, company Mogul.

Mr. Mahama, CEO of Engineers and Planners, has sued both UTV and Owusu Bempah for defamatory comments asking for GH-2 million.

But instead, the judge awarded GH 300,000 and directed the defendants to publish a retraction and apology in the Daily Graphic, and those defamatory words were used against Ibrahim Mahama on the same platform.

They were also directed to remove the complainants' defamatory material from all archives on their website and on the internet.

The judge also warned communicators who are going to malign innocent individuals on media platforms to desist from such acts because that will not be tolerated.

In the words of the judge, "Ernest Owusu Bempah defamed him by publishing those words addressed to the person of Ibrahim Mahama." I shall continue to grant a judgment in favor of Ibrahim Mahama, the Plaintiff. As we move towards the election next year, we need to be guided." At the time, Justice Georgina Datsa advised."

The decision was appealed by Owusu Bempah and he lost.

Mr. Ibrahim Mahama was represented in court by Aide Rafik Mahama throughout the proceedings. The judge cited the absence of Mr. Mahama as a reason for not awarding the defendant the full amount of GH 2 million, but she concluded by saying she understood the plaintiff's busy schedule, hence his absence in court.

Mr. Ibrahim Mahama's legal team was led by Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, a lawyer, and supported by Gloria Amoah and Makafui Dzimabi.