The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Bosiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and his media outlet Wontumi Multimedia have been sued for five million cedis.
He has been accused of making derogatory statements against Ibrahim Mahama, a businessman and brother of former president John Mahama.
Chairman Wontumi is alleged to have said on Wontumi TV and other media outlets that Ibrahim Mahama is a beneficiary of “stolen wealth”, part of which he used to sponsor a lady called Hajia 4 Real.
The businessman who deemed the comments defamatory also joined in the suit one Kenneth Mensah, the editor of an online news portal, for helping Wontumi to further spread falsehood about him.
“Plaintiff avers that the defamatory statement made by the 1st defendant of the plaintiff are palpable lies made without justification; and is/was actuated by the 1st defendant’s malice, disdain and ill-will towards plaintiff,” Mr. Mahama said in his statement of claim filed at the High Court on July 13, 2020.
“As an internationally renowned business executive and entrepreneur, the Plaintiff has suffered an exceedingly serious damage to his hard-earned reputation by being portrayed to right thinking members of society as a person of moral decadence who is not law-abiding,” he added “The Plaintiff has suffered serious damage to his character and reputation by being portrayed as a person whose source of wealth is through dubious means such as stealing.”
The businessman said being portrayed as a corrupt person, would cause many business entities worldwide to shy away from dealing with him.
Particulars of damage
In addition to his demand on the defendants to retract and apologise for defaming him, Ibrahim Mahama wants the court to slap them with 5 million Ghana cedis damage.
He also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining defendants whether by themselves, their servants or agents or otherwise from further publishing the same or any similar derogatory and defamatory matter of and concerning him.
