For recent remarks that the minister was a direct beneficiary of newly released bailout cash from a worldwide lender, Ken Ofori-Atta, the minister of finance, has filed a lawsuit against Captain Smart, the host of a radio and television show.

The minister's attorney claims that Captain Smart's remarks on his Onua Maakye program late last month were defamatory in a High Court writ dated Friday, June 2, 2023. and seen by GhanaWeb.

He is asking for GH10 million in compensation.

According to the court documents, the defendant made the following defamatory statements on May 22, 2023, while appearing on Captain Smart's program: "Are you aware that Ken Ofori Atta has taken his 10% of the IMF money? He takes 10% of each loan we take out.

In addition to being demonstrably untrue and wholly made up, the aforementioned remarks were also intended to denigrate the plaintiff. The statement of claim submitted by Ofori-Atta's attorney stated, "Those comments are malicious and were plainly further meant to convey and would be interpreted to convey sentiments that demean the plaintiff in the views of right-thinking members of society.

"The above-mentioned comments implied and were taken to suggest, among other things, that the plaintiff is dishonest, has mishandled public monies and has abused his office, laid out in their natural and common connotation.

"The aforementioned has significantly harmed Plaintiff's credit, personality, and credibility, and exposed him to public scandal, ridicule, grief, and disgrace, the plaintiff says.

RELIEFS

"A declaration that the defendant's statements, Do you know that Ken Ofori Atta got his 10% share of the IMF funds?" is what Ken Ofori-Atta is requesting. Every loan we make, Ken Ofori-Atta (Ofori-Atta) gets 10%, which is defamatory to the plaintiff.

Recovering "ten million Ghana cedis (GHC 10,000,000) as overall damages for the slanderous statements made by the defendant, including severe and/or exceptional damages for defamation" is the second request.

Third, Ofori-Atta desires "an apology for and withdrawal of the sentences accused of and particularised."

Fourth, "a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant from ever again making disparaging remarks about the claimant, whether through himself, his agents, representatives, or assigns.."


The court should be penalized with expenses for Captain Smart, is the final request.