South Dayi MP Dafeamekpor sues Assin South MP for defamation

South Dayi MP, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has taken legal action against his parliamentary colleague, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour of Assin South, accusing him of defamation following a controversial social media post.

The suit, filed at the High Court, arises from a post made by Rev. Fordjour on May 8, 2025, via the platform “X” (formerly Twitter), in which he called on Mr. Dafeamekpor—citing his role as Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee—to respond to alleged questionable payments. The post also implied that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had benefited financially while out of power.

Mr. Dafeamekpor, who currently serves as the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, firmly denied the allegations. He emphasized that he was not even a member of the committee in question during the period—December 2023—when the supposed events took place. He described the claims as "entirely false and malicious," asserting that they were made with reckless disregard for the truth.

The South Dayi MP contends that the public accusations have significantly harmed his reputation, personal integrity, and political career. He is asking the court to declare the statements defamatory and is seeking both an interlocutory and permanent injunction to prevent further publication of such claims by Rev Fordjour.

Among the reliefs being sought are a public apology, retraction of the post from both print and social media, and damages exceeding GH₵30 million. Mr. Dafeamekpor is also pursuing aggravated, punitive, and compensatory damages, citing the permanent nature of online content and the extensive reputational damage he claims to have suffered.

He maintains that the statements were deliberately made to tarnish his public image, cause economic harm, and expose him to ridicule.

The plaintiff is therefore seeking the following reliefs per his Writ and Statement of Claim;

a. A declaration that the statement made by the Defendant against the Plaintiff in paragraph 7 in this Statement of Claim and published on "X" formerly known as "Twitter" is false, malicious and defamatory of the Plaintiff. 

b. An order of Interlocutory injunction, restraining the Defendant, his assigns, privies, agents and workmen and all persons claiming through the Defendant from publishing the statements made by the Defendant in relation to the Plaintiff pending the final determination of the suit. 

c. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from making or in any other way, causing 

to be published any further defamatory statements about the Plaintiff. 

d. An order directed at the Defendant to retract the said defamatory statement made about the 

Plaintiff and posted online. 

е. An order directed at the Defendant to publish an apology to the Plaintiff in the following manner; 

1. By making one publication in a national daily newspaper 

ii. By posting on the "X" formerly "Twitter" social media platform with the same prominence the defamatory words received within seven (7) days of the judgment being delivered by this Honourable Court. 

f. General damages in the sum of the reputational value of the Plaintiff as stated in paragraph 5 above, against the Defendant in favour of the Plaintiff for the defamatory statement posted by the Defendant online. 

g. Aggravated damages against the Defendant for subjecting the Plaintiff to humiliating and malicious 

circumstances through his defamatory statement against the Plaintiff posted online. 

h. Punitive damages against the Defendant in favour of the Plaintiff as punishment for the defamatory 

statement posted online. 

i. Compensatory damages against the Defendant in favour of the Plaintiff for the defamatory statement posted online by the Defendant. 

j. Legal costs. 

k. Any other Orders that this Honorable Court deems fit to make.