Sekondi MP sues NPP member, Jospong, Metro TV over $350M cocaine claim

Blay Nyameke Armah, a Member of Parliament for Sekondi, has filed a defamation lawsuit in the High Court of Justice, Accra, against three defendants: Lawuratu Musah-Saka, the Jospong Group of Companies, and Ignite Media Group.

The case stems from alleged defamatory statements made on the widely aired television programme Good Morning Ghana and subsequently disseminated across various social media platforms.

According to the plaintiff’s claim in the writ dated April 9, the first defendant falsely accused him of being involved in transnational drug trafficking, including the possession of 3,000 kilograms of cocaine valued at $350 million.

The statements further suggested that Armah had fled to a neighbouring country to evade arrest and that his son had been apprehended in connection with the alleged criminal activities.

These accusations, as described in the writ, have caused significant harm to the plaintiff’s reputation as a lawyer, businessman, and parliamentary candidate, subjecting him to public ridicule and emotional distress.

The plaintiff contends that the allegations were made maliciously, without evidence, and aimed at portraying him as a criminal kingpin leading an organized criminal enterprise.

In his lawsuit, Armah seeks multiple legal remedies, including:
– A declaration that the statements made by the first defendant were false, malicious, and defamatory.
– A retraction and public apology issued by the defendants with the same prominence as the defamatory content.
– An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing further defamatory statements.
– General, aggravated, punitive, and compensatory damages totaling GH₵10,000,000.00.
– Legal costs and any other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court.