HON. DR. DOMINIC AKURITINGA AYINE V. EVRON HUGHES

JUDGMENT

BARTELS-KODWO (JA):-

INTRODUCTION

This is an appeal from the decision of the High Court, Accra dated 17th June 2019 which decision dismissed the Plaintiff/Appellant’s (hereinafter called “the Appellant”) action brought against the Defendant/Respondent (hereinafter called “the Respondent”). 

BACKGROUND

The Appellant, a politician, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, former Deputy Minister of Justice, a former lecturer at the School of Law at the University of Ghana and Managing Partner at Ayine and Felli, brought the instant action against the Defendant alleging defamation by the Defendant. 

By a writ of summons and accompanying statement of claim, the Appellant sued the Respondent seeking the reliefs reproduced verbatim below; 

1. A declaration that the publications pleaded at paragraphs 9 to 11 of the statement of claim to the effect that the Plaintiff is corrupt, a thief and fraudulent are defamatory to the Plaintiff. 
2. General damages for libel against Defendant for publishing t…