An Accra Fast Track Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Abodakpi on Thursday February 27 ruled in favour of the General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah who filed a law suit against Western Publications, publishers of the Daily Guide newspaper.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah in 2003 dragged the newspaper to court for defaming him in a publication which suggested that he used his position as General Secretary of the governing party to enrich himself and his family members.
The paper further claimed Mr. Nketiah used his position as Board Chairman of the Bui Power Dam and diverted resources meant for the project to build two mansions in Kumasi and Accra.
Angered by the publication, Mr. Nketiah affectionately called General Mosquito sought legal redress on the matter.
The presiding Judge, Justice Abodakpi in his ruling ordered Daily Guide to pay GHC 250,000 to the NDC General Secretary for damages.
Upon request by Mr. Nketiah’s legal team, an additional GHC 15,000 was slapped on the Daily Guide newspaper.
The Judge also ordered Daily guide to retract the said publication by apologizing to Mr. Nketiah in a report which should be published four times on the front page of the newspaper.
Daily Guide’s defense of fair comment and qualified privilege was dismissed by the court.
Family relations and well wishers of the NDC General Secretary after the court proceedings told Citi News the verdict should serve as a guide to the mass media.
Some of them chided a cross section of the mass media for what they described as gross irresponsibility in their reportage.
They therefore reminded media practitioners of their ethical standard of cross checking and double checking their facts before broadcast or publications.
These in their estimation will save readers and listeners from media biases in their reportage.
Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah was conspicuously missing in his court and was represented by his legal team.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana