Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken legal action against former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
This comes after Professor Frimpong-Boateng accused Otchere-Darko in his 2021 galamsey report of interfering in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, which Prof. Frimpong-Boateng chaired.
In his lawsuit for defamation filed at the High Court in Accra on Friday [April 28, 2023], Mr. Otchere-Darko is seeking damages of GH¢10 million from Frimpong-Boateng and a retraction and apology for the allegations made against him.
He argues that Frimpong-Boateng’s accusations are a wrongful twist of facts.
Mr Otchere-Darko is also praying the court for an order for a perpetual injunction to restrain Prof Frimpong-Boateng, “whether by himself, his servants, agents or assigns from repeating similar or other defamatory words” against him.
According to Professor Frimpong-Boateng, Otchere-Darko defended a company that was actively destroying the environment, despite there being a suspension on the issuance of licenses for operation in forest reserves at the time.
However, Otchere-Darko maintains that he did no wrong in defending the company and was merely seeking information on behalf of his client.
Responding to Otchere-Darko’s legal action, Frimpong-Boateng dismissed the claims and accused Otchere-Darko of having a pixelated view of the illegal mining landscape in Ghana.
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Gabby sues Frimpong-Boateng for defamation, demands GH¢10m damages over allegations in galamsey report
