GNASSM national executives file GH₵1.5m defamation lawsuit against Philip Bawa and Co.

The National Executives of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) have taken legal action against three persons, with the former having filed a lawsuit over the publication of what they term slanderous content made by the defendants.

The national body has described as defamatory the publication of various allegations against its president and other executives, accusing them of a lack of accountability, exploiting the rank and file for personal gains, allocating some concessions designated for national distribution to certain executives, and exhibiting unprecedented levels of greed.

The writ, jointly filed by the president, Philip Kwasi Akuffo; GNASSM vice president, Sampson Wiredu; and Godwin Nii Armah, secretary of GNASSM, at a Kumasi High Court and issued by a lawyer for the plaintiff, Nana Akwasi Osei Bonsu, Esq., is seeking an apology and damages amounting to GH₵500,000 against each of the three defendants for the alleged defamatory publications.

The three persons are Philip K. Bawah, Daniel Kwaku Mensah (DKM), and Yaw Amoafo, who are current and former members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners.

In the writ filed on June 25, 2024, the plaintiffs alleged that the publication by the defendants on various media outlets is not only false, malicious, and reckless but is also intended to subject the plaintiffs to public scorn and hatred and reduce them in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.

They are therefore praying to the court to order the defendants to publish, on three consecutive occasions, on the same platforms where the defamations were made, a retraction and apology with the same prominence as given to the issuance of the defamatory statements made against the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns, and servants from further publishing any defamatory comments about the plaintiffs and further costs covering legal fees.

At an emergency Extraordinary General Meeting held on June 25, 2024, it was revealed that the defendants have formed an association that is not functioning but is intended to destroy GNASSM by attacking the leadership.

The members present from all 13 mining districts in the country debunked assertions in the press release by Philip Bawah and Co., indicating that it does not reflect the views and aspirations of all the members.