Court Orders Spio Garbra to Pay GHC 150,000 to Chairman Wontumi
The Kumasi High Court has ruled against a defamation lawsuit presented by lawyers of Dr. Ekow Spio Garbra against Ashanti Regional Chairman for the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Bosiako popularly known as wontumi.
Spio Garbra who served under former President John Mahama filed a defamation suit demanding $ 10 million in damages for defamation against Bernard Antwi Bosiako.
The suit has been abrogated.
Meanwhile, the court has awarded a cost of GH¢150,000 against Dr. Spio-Garbrah.
Dr. Spio-Gabrah filed the suit after Chairman Wontumi commented on his Wontumi TV and radio station in Kumasi, where he allegedly described the plaintiff as a “thief” ahead of the 2020 general elections.
Dr. Ekwow Spio-Gabrah also sued the media platform, Wontumi Multimedia Company Limited.
The plaintiff, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and the defendant, Chairman Wontumi, took turns and mounted the witness box where they were cross-examined.
The NDC lawmaker stated that the statement Chairman Wontumi made about him was defamatory and was maliciously uttered without caution with the intent to cause damage and injury to his hard-earned global reputation.
The plaintiff quantified the value of his global reputation as being over $10 million, hence requesting that amount as compensation.
However, Chairman Wontumi in his cross-examination, said he only interpreted a statement by former NDC Member of Parliament, Inusah Fuseini.
Delivering the judgment today, Thursday, 28th July 2022, the court ruled that Chairman Wontumi’s words on Dr. Spio-Garbrah were not malicious.
The court also noted that it has dismissed the case because the reliefs being sought by Plaintiff were not substantiated.
