Sekondi MP, Blay Armah files GHc 10 million defamation suit

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Blay Nyameke Armah, has filed a ten million Ghana cedis defamation suit against Jospong Group of Companies and two others: Lawuratu Musah-Saka, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, and Ignite Media Group, operators of Metro TV.

Blay Armah’s grounds for the defamation action is that in the course of a discussion, on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana” show on Monday, 7 April 2025, Lawuratu Musah-Saka falsely alleged that he (Blay Armah), was the owner of three thousand kilograms—equivalent to 3.3 tons—of cocaine, with an estimated value of   USD $350,000,000). Ms Musah-Saka also referred to the Plaintiff (Blay Armah) as a “cocaine kingpin” in relation to an ongoing drug trafficking case in Ghana.

Mr Armah contends that the claims by Ms Musah-Saka on Metro TV were damning, false, malicious, defamatory and derogatory. Mr Armah further notes that the said defamatory statement was also rebroadcasted during the 6:00 pm News bulletin of Metro TV.

He further noted in his particulars of defamation that the said statements were made on a widely broadcast television program “Good Morning Ghana” and were further published and republished on various digital and social media platforms belonging to the Jospong Group and Ignite Media Group, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), thereby extending the publication to a global audience and rendering the defamatory content permanent and continuously accessible.

To this end, Mr Blay Armah is seeking a total of nine reliefs from the general jurisdiction high court where he has filed his application. First is “a declaration that the statements set out at paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 of this Statement of Claim, were false, malicious and defamatory.”

Second, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, Jospong Group, Lawuratu Musah-Saka, and Ignite Media Group, from making or in any other way, causing to be publish any further defamatory statements about the Plaintiff.

Third, “an order directed at the defendants to retract and apologize to Plaintiff Mr Blay K. Armah with the same prominence and circulation as he caused to be published of the defamatory statement in the following manner.

Fourth, “General damages of Ten Million United Ghana Cedis (GHC 10,000,000.00) against the defendants in favour of the Plaintiff for the defamatory statement made by the Defendant and posted on the online media platforms and fifth, “aggravated damages for reckless and malicious publication.”

Sixth, “punitive damages against the defendants in favour of the plaintiff as punishment for the defamatory statement posted on social media platforms. Seventh, Compensatory damages against the defendants in favour of the plaintiff for the defamatory statements posted on social media platforms. He is also asking for legal cost and any other reliefs the court may deem fit.

SOURCE: AsaaseRadio