Publishers of Ghana Palavar newspaper have agreed on terms of settlementwith Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a legal practitioner and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), after the newspaper published a defamatory story about him.
On September 13, 2017, Mr Otchere-Darko sued the Revalap Publishers and Suppliers Limited and Tetteh Amedjoe, Editor of the newspaper, for the defamatory publication.
The words complained of were contained in a publication, which alleged that the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, had allegedly awarded a $20million contract to Mr Otchere-Darko to review contracts awarded at the Ministry of Finance.
The story also alleged that Mr Otchere-Darko had engaged a law firm based in the United States of America (USA) to assist his (Mr Otchere-Darko’s) law firm to undertake the task.
In his suit, Mr Otchere-Darko wanted the Accra High Court to perpetually restrain the defendants and their agents from further publishing or causing to be published the said or similar words defamatory of him.
He was also seeking damages for the publication which he described as reckless and false.
Terms of settlement
However, the case did not travel to a full trial because during the case management conference, the plaintiff and the defendants decided to settle it amicably.
The terms of settlement was filed at the court on November 22, 2018, and the presiding judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, adopted it as the consent judgement of the court.
The terms of settlement include an unqualified apology and retraction of the story that gave rise to the suit by the defendants.
The apology and retraction must be on the front-page of the Ghana Palavar 14 days after the entry of the consent judgment.
Secondly, the unqualified apology and retraction shall be carried on the website of the Ghana Palavar on the same day the story is published in the newspaper.
Also, the defendants shall reimburse Mr Otchere-Darko of the filing fee for all the processes filed so far within 30 days of the entry of the settlement as consent judgement.
Furthermore, Mr Otchere-Darko fully reserves the right to proceed against the defendants should they default the three initial terms of settlement.
Source: Graphic.com
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My dear brother, don't worry too much about the Akan tagged, that kind of thing here. Then, as the Founder said, they don't listen to themselves to realize that they are destroying themselves. What Gabby needed, was to show Ghanaians their diabolical and mischievous intentions behind the defamation. The doom will be their own accomplishment squarely deserved for their evil intents.
I'm really disappointed in Gabby Otchere Darko for accepting the case to be settled outside court. Look, these people hate Akans and they think they can destroy you by defaming you and why do you give kids gloves to your enemy? what these people forget is whosoever God has blessed they can never bring down. They hate Akans to the extent they wish Alan never existed at the same time they forget they are in the minority so they choosing to secede will be easier for them but because of our natural resources which has given Ghana name internationall they've chosen to stay in Ghana but will never help her to move forward ,wicked and callous people. Dr Addo Kuffuor also left Larry Dogbe off the hook which has giving him the audacity to publish nons*ense about hardworking successful Ghanaians. Imagine Woyome and Kweku Adoboli were Akans how these ethnocentric idi*ots would have gone gaga! You Akans must stop letting these f000*00ls off the hook anytime they denigrate you for they lnow what they doing ,they dont care about the apology and whatever they think they've sold it into public consumption already and nothing will change but letting them pay hefty sum will teach them sense, enemy is an enemy who can never become a best friend not from the side of these people. They go to Akan lands to better their lives still they hate Akans.
After publishing many false stuff about the NPP and they are now nailed, you go ahead to accept this settlement? I can assure Gabby that they will publish worse versions of this about him after they are left off the hook. Such irritants!
HOW CAN AN INFAMOUS PERSON BE DEFAMED?
I AM REALLY SADDENED THAT GABBY ACCEPTED THE CASE BE SETTLED OUT OF COURT. HE SHOULD HAVE PURSUED IT TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION AND DEMAND HEFTY DAMAGES FROM THESE RENTED AND CHIEF PROPAGANDISTS OF THE LUUTING BRIGADE BUNCH OF MORONS CALLING THEMSELVES AS A POLITICAL PARTY. THIS IS WHAT EMBOLDENS THEM TO KEEP ON LYING AND DEFAMING BETTER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. BY THE WAY HAS AMETOR QUARME DIED? THE CHIEF LIER HAS SUDDENLY VAMOOSED FROM THE AIRWAVES AFTER THE ELECTIONS. THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES AFTER THEM.