The Cape Coast High Court has ordered the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, to retract defamatory statements he made against the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Cape Coast, Ernest Arthur, within three weeks.
The court also asked Mr Ricketts-Hagan to retract the defamatory statements through a press conference and render an apology to the MCE.
The court, presided over by Justice Patience Mills-Tetteh, also charged GH¢100,000 general damages against the MP.
A cost of GH¢5,000 was awarded in favour of the MCE.
The court also restrained the MP together with his assigns, agents and privies from making further defamatory comments against the MCE.
Context
The MCE on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 filed a defamation suit against the MP following what he described as ‘defamatory comments’ about him by Mr Ricketts-Hagan after his confirmation as MCE.
In reference to a press conference held by Mr Ricketts-Hagan after the confirmation of Mr Arthur as MCE, the MP was alleged to have used unsavoury words to describe the MCE.
Suit
In the writ, Mr Arthur prayed the court to restrain Mr Ricketts-Hagan, his agents from further publishing defamatory statements against his person.
A statement of claim accompanying the writ of the MCE said Mr Ricketts -Hagan knew that the statements he published about him were untrue but went ahead to publish same.
Mr Arthur said in the writ that although he was successfully approved by the assembly members as MCE, the MP was bent on tarnishing his image with unprintable words.
It said the statements were made in an environment where the plaintiff (MCE) was well known and was still performing his political duties.
Mr Arthur said the statements by Mr Ricketts-Hagan which were broadcast in the media nationwide had seriously injured his reputation and brought him into public ridicule and contempt.