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The New Patriotic Party has opted for an out of court settlement in the case between Hajia Fati and a journalist with the Multimedia Group, Ohemaa Sakyiwaa Ahwenepa.

Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Counsel for Hajia Fati, Lawyer Nkrabea Effah Darteh disclosed that this was communicated to him by Counsel for the Multimedia Group when they met in court yesterday, Monday.

Embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) loyalist, Hajia Fati, made her first appearance in court yesterday to answer charges of assault and damage of property leveled against her by the Multimedia Group (Operators of Adom FM).

She was arraigned at the Adjabeng Magistrate Court Monday morning on charges of assault and damaging of property, charges she pleaded not guilty to.

The NPP loyalist assaulted a reporter from Accra based Adom FM, Ohemaa Sakyiwaa Ahwenepa who was sent to the party headquarters to cover an event.

Police Prosecutor Insp. Greg Yeboah announced that investigations have been completed.

Her lawyers, led by Nkrabea Effah Darteh, and another Counsel who was representing Freddy Blay, pleaded for bail for her and assured that she will make herself available for the trial.

Effah Darteh told the court that the case against his client has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion with a high level of media trial going on.

He also announced to the court that attempts are being made to settle the case since it is a misdemeanor amenable to settlement by law.

"I hope we will have everything settled before we return to court on the 18th of next month," he said.

Background

Hajia Fati reportedly punched a journalist from Accra based Adom FM, Ohemaa Sakyiwaa Ahwenepa at the NPP headquarters, but said she only took that action because the reporter had not sought her permission before taking pictures of her, neither did she introduce herself as a journalist.

The victim had been assigned to the NPP headquarters to report on events as suspended Second Vice Chairman of the party; Sammy Crabbe had gone to the office to pick forms to contest the party’s chairmanship position at the upcoming National Delegates Conference.

The incident occurred on Friday, 4 April 2018, as Mr Sammy Crabbe, who was suspended in the lead-up to the 2016 general elections, along with then-NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko and then-General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong, entered the headquarters to pay for his nomination forms with a banker’s draft.

However, a frenzied Madam Fati descended downstairs and threatened never to allow the party to sell the forms to Mr Crabbe or to allow the suspended party official back into the office.

The incident was recorded just a day after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day here in Ghana.