Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a Senior Lecturer and former Head of Department (HOD) of History and Political Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), known for his strong views on pertinent national issues, is seeking GHc1, 500,000 in damages, in a defamation suit against Kumasi-based Luv FM and Kasapa FM in Accra.
The joint suit against Multimedia Group, operators of Luv FM in Kumasi, and Excellence In Broadcasting (EIB), operators of Kasapa FM in Accra, was filed at a Kumasi High Court for defamation of character.
The suit, filed by his Lawyers at Holy Trinity Chambers, said the 1st defendant and the 2nd defendant (Multimedia Group and Excellence In Broadcasting (EIB) respectively) on or about 15 January 2016, caused a publication to be made of and concerning the Plaintiff on its online (internet) website.
“Our Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Sampson K. Nyamekye reports from the Writ of Summons that the Plaintiff says that some of the Publications were captioned. “REVEALED – AMOAKO BAAH IS NOT A PHD HOLDER, “OR” DR. AMOAKO BAAH NOT A PHD HOLDER, HE DID NOT FINISH HIS PHD – KNUST COMMITTEE.” ACADEMIC THEFT: AMOAKO BAAH IS NOT A PHD HOLDER-REPORT.”
Dr. Baah argues that all the allegations contained in the publications are false, and or malicious in that they are calculated to lower him in the eyes of the right thinking members of the community, and or to destroy his reputation.
He says the defendants intentionally made the publication knowing that they were false, malicious, and reckless, and did not care whether they were false.
“The defendants did not check with the Plaintiff about the credibility of the allegation before they caused it to be published. The Defendants have recently attempted to remove the publications from their website because they know it is false.”
According to the writ of summons, as a consequence of the publication, he has suffered; “humiliation, distress, shock, embarrassment and affront to feelings.
Finally, as a consequence of the matters pleaded above, the Plaintiff claims against the defendants jointly and severally for aggravated and exemplary damages.
Although loved for his strong views, Dr. Amoako Baah has been condemned by mostly members of the incumbent National Democratic Congress, who have described him as a member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), and that some of his utterances mostly against the government, are not objective.
Is Dr. Amoako Baah a member of the NPP?
Dr. Amoako Baah reportedly chaired the NPP’s recent fundraising event at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, and he is also said to have participated in a current National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.
The no-nonsense professor was once the host of a socio-political show on Kumasi-based Ultimate FM, which is also owned and operated by the EIB Network.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/ citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie