"I still stand by the publication I made" - Quarcoo tells court
Appeals Court Upholds High Court Ruling on Banja Clan
"I still stand by the publication I made" - Quarcoo tells court
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99
Eben Quarcoo, former Editor of the "Free Press", on Monday told a circuit court in Accra that he still stood by the publication he made in 1996 that the Government was dealing in cocaine.
Quarcoo, who was being cross-examined by the prosecution, said he believed the facts of the publication, whose source was the "African Observer", a weekly newspaper based in New York.
He said as far as he was aware, the Government had not challenged the publication made by the African Observer.
When the prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu told him that the Government issued a statement that the publication was not true, Quarcoo said "the statement was silent on some vital issues and did not challenge the credibility of the publication".
Quarcoo is charged with making a publication likely to injure the reputation of the country by stating that the Government was dealing in cocaine and that it was using the proceeds to purchase arms, which it would use to destabilise the country if it lost the 1996 general elections.
He has pleaded not guilty and is on a 10 million-cedi bail.
Quarcoo said he did not check on the diplomatic sources that the African Observer stated it obtained its facts from before making the publication.
He explained that it was the duty of the African Observer to check from those sources, adding that he believed what the paper published was true.
Hearing continues on Tuesday, July 27.
GRi../
Appeals Court Upholds High Court Ruling on Banja Clan
Wa (Upper West) 27 July '99
An Appeal Court sitting in Wa last Thursday, unanimously dismissed an appeal filed by Daana Yakubu and three others on behalf of the Daanayiri Clan of Wa against a judgement of the Wa High Court in favour of Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu and two others representing the Banja Clan.
The High Court judgement delivered by Mr Justice O. K. Sampson on March four, 1999, in favour of the Banja Clan was sought for a declaration of title to Kabanye lands in Wa, perpetual injunction and damages for trespass.
The appellants, represented by Mr Adumua Bossman, appealed against the judgement of the High Court.
In their judgement on July 22, 1999, the Court of Appeal constituted by Mrs Justice G. T. Wood, Presiding, Mr Justice A. A. Benin and Mr Justice D. K. Afreh, unanimously dismissed the appeal.
The court awarded costs of 1,500,000 cedis in favour of the respondents.
GRi../