Free Press Fined ?90 Million

A High Court in Ho presided over by Justice P.K. Gyaesayor has fined the Volta Regional Correspondent of the Free Press newspaper, the Editor and Publishers, a total cost of 90 million cedis in damages after hearing the complaint of Bob Kwofie Dusu, a business man resident in Ho.

Mr Dusu went to court after Patrice Selormey, the correspondent published a story captioned ?another ritual murder? in Ho in the 25th April 2002, issue of the paper.

The story alleged that Mr Kwofie connived with other elders to kill an expatriate who lodged in a hotel at Ho for ritual purposes.

According to Mr Kwofie, the story has had an adverse effect on his business and public image. Justice Gyaesayor ruled that since the defendants refused to present themselves in court, and failed to enter their defence, the story cannot be justified. He further ordered the paper to retract the story and render an unqualified apology to the plaintiff to be published in the Free Press and one national daily.