We have recently witnessed a development in the ongoing defamation suit filed against political activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor by the National Security Minister. Barker-Vormawor had filed a request to the High Court for the GHc10 million defamation suit to be struck out, which has been subsequently dismissed.
The High Court, presided over by Justice Rev Joseph Owusu-Adu Agyemang, ruled that the application lacked merit. In addition, the court awarded a cost of GHc10k against Oliver Barker-Vormawor, following a request from the lawyers of Kan Dapaah for GHc20,000.
The ruling came after lawyers of Barker-Vormawor argued that the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, had exaggerated and colored his application by the use of words like "bribe" or "bribery" in his Statement of Claims. They contended that the removal of those words meant there was no case for defamation to claim, as a private individual cannot bribe a public officer like Kan Dapaah, as per his suit.
However, lawyers of the National Security Minister opposed the request and urged the court to dismiss the same with punitive cost.
This ruling marks a significant development in the legal proceedings and underscores the complexities involved in defamation cases. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of precision in legal language and the potential implications of the use of specific terms in legal documents.
As the case continues to unfold, it will be interesting to observe how both parties navigate the legal intricacies and how the court ultimately adjudicates on the matter. We will continue to monitor and provide updates on this case as it progresses.
-source starrfm | curated by Aisha Yakubu | GhanaCrimes
