John Boadu sues Republic Newspaper

Source: myjoyonline.com - The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has sued DST Global Consult, Publisher of the Republic Newspaper, the News Editor and the Managing Editor for libel.
The suit is in connection with the July 21, 2015 publication in the paper, with headline “John Boadu Grabs new $40,000 car- Accused of pocketing GH650, 000 as Talensi creditors chase NPP”

The National Organiser of the NPP is seeking an exemplary damages of GH500, 000 and General damages from Michael Ghanney, News Editor, David Tamakloe, Managing Editor and the Publisher, DST Global Consult.

According to the Plaintiff whose lawyers are Lexkudoz Legal Consultants, the defendants headline of the Republic newspaper is defamatory.

Reliefs

Mr. John Boadu is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants jointly and or severally either by themselves or by their agent or assigns from further publishing or causing to be printed, published and or distributed the said defamatory words or like words as contained in the statement.

General damages and Exemplary damage of 500,000 (five-hundred thousand Ghana cedis)

Finally a retraction and apology in Defendants’ newspaper with the same prominence of the 21st July 2015 together with four (4) publication on the front and back pages of the Daily Graphic Newspaper for four (4) consecutive weeks.

Statement of Claim

In the statement of Claim, Mr. John Boadu averred that the Republic Newspaper’s statements, for example “Details of the new Car are still trickling in. The glittering white SUV which has barely shed its enticingly fresh showroom scent is said to have cost a whooping US43, 000, causing a stir among some members of the Party convinced that the head-turning car was an evidence of some of the untraceable election fund”

“Apparently, the monies allocated by the Party for the organisation of the Talensi by-election through him did not trickle down to the constituency, leading to anger among Party “foot-soldiers” and credits”, amounts to defamation.

The Plaintiff further avers and will contend that the statements are false and constitute a grave libel/ defamation of the Plaintiff as the words in their natural and ordinary meaning mean or are understood to mean;

Plaintiff is a thief, greedy, opportunistic, and dishonest
That Plaintiff is not loyal to his Party and is only using his position in the NPP for financial gains.

As a result of the publication and dissemination of the false and defamatory news-paper story, the Plaintiff has suffered considerable distress, anguish, and hurt/injury and has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt”

Plaintiff again contends that defendants published the said words in knowledge that they were reckless and with a reckless disregard as to whether or not they were libellous.

Mr. John Boadu finds such an attempt to tarnish his hard earned reputation both in politics, public life and business very worrying.
Adding that the allegations are preposterous hence the court action.