Chronicle slammed 40 million cedi fine for libel
Interim injunction against installation of Akim Kotoku Omanhene
Wanted man jailed for another offence at Techiman
Chronicle slammed 40 million cedi fine for libel
Accra (Greater Accra), 31st May 99 -
An Accra High Court has awarded 40 million cedis in general damages to Mr Edward Salia, Minister Roads and Transport, in a case he brought against the Ghanaian Chronicle newspaper.
Mr Salia who was represented by Mr Ambrose Dery of Dery, Bimi and Company, filed a writ of summons against the Chronicle claiming general damages for libel in an article titled "The vetting begins: Minister in Bribery scandal" published in the February 24, 1997 issue of the paper.
A statement issued from the Ministry of Communications said Mr S.T. Farkye, the Presiding Judge in his ruling, said "any ordinary person after reading the article will come to the conclusion that Mr Salia had taken a bribe. The Judge dismissed Chronicle's argument that it had given prominence to both sides of the story on the bribery allegation."
The statement said the court concluded that "the story had damaged the reputation of Mr Salia and accordingly awarded 40 million cedis general damages and two million cedis costs against the Ghanaian Chronicle."
The damages awarded to Mr Salia marks the highest award made in respect of a case of libel brought against any newspaper.
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Interim injunction against installation of Akim Kotoku Omanhene
Akim Oda (Eastern Region), 31st May '99 -
The scheduled installation of an Omanhene for the Akim Kotoku Traditional Area at Akim Oda on Monday afternoon has been put on the hold.
This follows an application for an interim injunction filed at the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs at Koforidua on Friday, May 28 against the installation.
Ebusua Panin, Kwame Kusi, described as the Head of the Agona Royal Family at Akim Oda and Nana Asamoah Akwa, Hweakwahene and acting Abakomahene of Akim Kotoku Traditional Area filed the petition.
They are seeking an order of interim injunction restraining Nana Akua Asantewaa II, Queenmother of the Traditional Area from presenting Dr Joseph Kyei Mintah, to the king makers as a candidate for enstoolment as Paramount Chief of the Akim Kotoku Traditional Area.
The application also seeks to restrain Obrempong Asare Antwi Peasah I, Jaasehene of the Traditional Area from exercising his role as an intermediary between the "king makers" and the Agona Royal Family in respect of Dr. Kyei-Mintah.
Dr Kyei-Mintah should also be restrained from holding himself out as a member of the Agona Royal Family of Akim Oda.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that Dr Kyei-Mintah is not a member of any of the houses of the Agona Royal Family of Akim Oda and that he is not entitled to be nominated and enstooled as a Paramount Chief of Akim Kotoku Traditional Area.
They are also seeking a relief that Nana Asantewaa and Obrempong Peasah are acting contrary to custom, in trying to put forward Dr Kyei-Mintah as a candidate for enstoolment as the Paramount Chief of Akim Oda.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, the petitioners said Nana Asantewaa and Obrempong Peasah are colluding to present Dr Kyei-Mintah as a member of the royal family of Akim Oda and qualified to be enstooled as Omanhene of Akim Kotoku.
They said Nana Asantewaa has in collusion with Obrempong Peasah, set Monday May 31 as the day on which to present their candidate to king makers sitting at Werende, adding that the king makers have been duly informed.
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Wanted man jailed for another offence at Techiman
Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 31st May 99 -
A wanted man, Ali Samuel alias Samuel Abugri, whose picture appeared on the front page of the Daily Graphic of May 12, 1999 has been jailed for 12 months on a different charge of stealing by the Techiman circuit tribunal.
Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Mary Asunta said Abugri went to Mr Jacob Avoka, a teacher of Techiman Kramo Junior Secondary School, and told him that a bus, on which he was travelling from Kumasi to Bolgatanga, had an accident at the outskirts of Techiman, on May nine this year.
She said the accused claimed he was sent to the Holy Family Hospital, at Techiman for treatment and was discharged but he could not trace his belongings from the vehicle.
Mr Avoka agreed to accommodate him for the night.
The Prosecution said the following day Mr Avoka left for school leaving Abugri at home.
Chief Inspector Asunta said when Mr Avoka returned from school, Abugri told him that he was going to a Kumasi hospital for further treatment.
He decided to see Abugri off but as they were leaving the house, his wife detected the loss of her piece of cloth valued at 50,000 cedis from the bedroom.
She said when the accused was confronted and searched the cloth was found in his bag and was escorted to the Techiman Police station.
It was during the trial, that his picture appeared in the newspaper as being wanted by the Police at Osu, Accra, for stealing over 16 million cedis.
When his picture was shown to him, Abugri admitted, saying, "yes I am the one", without remorse.
He has been sent to Sunyani to serve the 12 months term of imprisonment while arrangements are being made to send him to Osu.
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