Former IGP Asante-Apeatu sues Net 2 TV Presenter For Defamation
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, has sued the host of ‘The Seat’ political programme on Net 2 Television, Justice Kwaku Annan, for defamation.
In a writ of summons dated July 2nd 2021, Mr Asante-Apeatu is asking the court for compensation, including lawyers fees, over defamatory comments made by Mr Annan in a June 16, 2021 broadcast.
The former IGP avers that the comments by the TV presenter have injured his reputation as a well-known retired IGP of Ghana and a forensic specialist.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Annan suggested that the IGP is a fence for criminals in Nigeria and Ghana.
Additionally, he alleged that Mr Asante-Apeatu harbours and works in cahoots with criminals and is on the payroll of top criminals in Ghana.
“The plaintiff avers that the words complained of are utterly false, products of the defendant’s imagination and were mischievously calculated by the defendant to disparage the plaintiff and to create disaffection for him and to bring him into odium in the eyes of right-thinking members of the Republic and the global community,” the suit said.
“In consequence, the plaintiff’s reputation has been egregiously damaged, and he has suffered debilitating distress and embarrassment. Further, he has been inundated with numerous calls from professional associates, journalists, social relations and friends and outright strangers, and he has had to answer very mortifying questions”.
Therefore, the plaintiff is seeking reliefs in general damages for libel contained in the defendant’s publication, aggravated damages arising from libel published by the defendant of the plaintiff, and legal costs to be incurred by the plaintiff in the court process.