I insist Baba Jamal is involved in galamsey - Wontumi

Ashanti Regional Chairman for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako is daring the former Member of Parliament for Akwatia Constituency, Hon. Baba Jamal to bring the law suit against him over his galamsey comment on UTV.

According to a Daily Post publication on May 22, 2017, a private legal practitioner and former MP for Akwatia, Baba Jamal, who was for eight years a deputy Minister has sued the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako for Ghc 2 million at an Accra High Court for defaming him on UTV on Friday, April 25, 2017.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly called Chairman Wontumi during the said program which was being broadcast live by UTV stated in twi that he, Baba Jamal was deeply involved in illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, in the Eastern Region.

According to the private legal practitioner, the said claim, a falsehood "was reckless, malicious and intended to and did in fact expose him to public ridicule, disdain and opprobrium and tend to lower his hard won reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society locally and internationally”.

Daily Post again reports that Baba Jamal is seeking general damages of two Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 2,000,000.00) for defamation/ libel, an order that Defendants publish a retraction or unqualified apology for the offensive publication with equal prominence as well as a punitive cost, legal expenses and any other reliefs.

Also joined in the suit is UTV; thus according to lawyer Baba Jamal, while Chairman Wontumi was making the false allegations, his photograph and that of other individuals mentioned was “ vividly displayed and made to accompany the story” by the TV station.

But reacting to this law suit on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Chairman Wontumi averred the suit may not be not true as Baba Jamal has not served him any writ of summon.

“It is not true because Baba Jamal has not served me any writ of summon, but I am looking forward to the suit. Find out from Daily Post if they know any company by name Eastern Miners Association? We have a lot of the MPs who are operating behind some unknown individuals in the illegal mining business,” he insisted.

“Anything that Wontumi says is based on evidence but in any case nobody has summoned me before any court for defamation. But if indeed it is true, I am ready for him in court. I insist that Baba Jamal is behind Eastern Miners Association and I know what I am talking about,” he asserted.

“I have just given a name and I will wait till I receive the summons then the rest of the things I know will follow,” he dared Baba Jamal.

He however was of the view that Daily Post publication maybe one of their fabricated stories they write about him; insisting the law suit maybe a lie because he has not received anything but added he will go to court if he is summoned.