Obed Asamoah takes two NDC Action Forum members to court

Kumasi (Ahanti Region) -- Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), aspiring to become its national chairman, has filed a writ in a Kumasi High Court against Messrs A.K. Mensah and Asamoah Atuahene of the NDC Action Forum for libel.

He is seeking a claim for damages and perpetual injunction restraining the two, their agents, servants or otherwise from further libellous publication against him. Dr. Asamoah is also asking the court to give any further order or relief as shall be deemed just. The writ was filed on his behalf by his solicitors, Mattias Gollo and Company, a Kumasi-based legal firm.

In his statement of claim, Dr. Asamoah said as a seasoned and tested politician who was a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and also held the Foreign Affairs portfolio, his reputation stands unblemished in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities.

He said consequent upon the defeat of the NDC in the 2000 general elections, he became chairman of a Re-organisation Committee was established by the party. Dr. Asamoah said he is also the chairman of the finance committee of the NDC and won the admiration of all for his honesty, handwork, dedication and simple lifestyle.

Dr Asamoah said Messrs Mensah and Atuahene have for a about one year now be launching sustained attacks on his reputation, accusing him of acts and omissions criminal in nature and that they know patently well that those attacks are untrue and yet they persisted their action.

He said pseudonyms and fictitious names supported by accompanying signatures are normally used by Mensah and Atuahene in carrying out their unjustifiable attacks on his reputation by way of press releases and articles in the media.

One of such libellous invasions of his reputation, he said, is a press statement headed "Suspend Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah for the missing 100 million cedis dated 7 January, 2002 which was circulated to media houses and was published in the Wednesday, 9 January, 2002 edition of the Daily Guide newspaper under the banner headline 'Rumpus in NDC: Obed faces action".

He indicated that the two used fictitious names and signatures of members of the Action Forum allegedly from the Sekyere West constituency of the NDC, a constituency which also does not exist. Dr. Asamoah stated that he would demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court at the trail that the said press statement was authored and published by Mensah and Atuahene. He said he has suffered great damage to his hard won reputation and has been greatly lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of society.