The Cape Coast High Court has ruled in favor of Assin South Member of Parliament Rev. John Ntim Fordjour in a defamation lawsuit against two individuals who accused him of misconduct on a WhatsApp platform.
In a judgment delivered Monday, the court ordered defendants Stephen Cobbah, alias Adepa, and Yaw Korankye, alias Ampong, to pay GHS700,000 in damages and GHS20,000 each in legal costs for publishing false claims about the lawmaker on the “Assinman Politics Gh” group in March 2024.
Rev. Fordjour, who serves as the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, filed the suit in April 2024 seeking redress for reputational harm caused by the posts. The court also imposed a perpetual injunction barring the defendants from further defamatory statements and mandated a public retraction and apology across all platforms where the remarks were shared, including the original WhatsApp group.
The ruling underscores Ghana’s judiciary’s growing scrutiny of social media-driven defamation, particularly involving public figures. While the defendants’ exact statements were not disclosed in court documents, the case highlights the legal risks of unverified allegations disseminated through digital channels.
Legal analysts note the substantial damages awarded uncommon in many local defamation suits signal courts’ increasing willingness to deter online smear campaigns. The decision aligns with recent efforts to balance free expression with accountability in Ghana’s evolving digital landscape, where political discourse often spills onto unregulated platforms.
Rev. Fordjour’s victory follows months of proceedings and reinforces precedents set in similar cases, where courts have prioritized protecting reputational integrity without stifling public debate. As Ghana approaches national elections, the judgment may prompt heightened caution among political actors leveraging social media for mobilization or attacks, emphasizing the judiciary’s role in curbing misinformation while safeguarding democratic engagement.
