Rawlings book launch case adjourned to Sept. 26

An Accra Fast Track High Court on Thursday adjourned to September 26, the case in which Ex- President Jerry John Rawlings is seeking to restrain Professor Kweku Danso-Boafo from launching a book titled: “JJ Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana”.

When the case was called, Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for Ex- President Rawlings told the court that they have filed their statement of case whilst the defendants have also filed their statement of defence and affidavit in opposition.

According to Mr. Akyea, both parties are putting their heads together to find an amicable settlement of the matter.

Mr. Akyea however noted that the ex-president was not in the country and would be coming back on September 22, 2014, adding that, he (Mr. Akyea) had not had any meaningful discussion with him on the state of affairs.

The court presided over by Mr. Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh adjourned the matter.

The defence team was led by Mr. Alex Quartey.

Prof. Danso-Boafo, the defendant was in court while Mr. Kobinah Andoh an aide to the former president represented him.

Ex-President Rawlings contention is that the author, a former ambassador to the United Kingdom, did not wait for his final input and went ahead to print the book, which was expected to be launched in Accra on August 20 this year.

Mr Rawlings in an affidavit prayed the court to place an injunction on the book launch, accusing Prof. Danso-Boafo of reneging on an earlier agreement.

According to former President Rawlings, Prof. Danso-Boafo should have waited for him to review the book and correct all factual inaccuracies contained in the manuscripts.

He contended that the author of the book “has breached his own solemn undertaking with me and has published the book “J.J. Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana” with the view to launching same.

Ex- president noted that the former Ambassador “had not extended due courtesy to me relating to the agreement aforesaid and had dropped a special invitation inviting him to the launch of the unapproved book. Annexed and marked as Exhibit C is the special invitation dropped at my office by the Defendant/ Respondent.”

Touching on the background to the agreement with Prof. Danso-Boafo, the former President said "Sometime in 2006 the Defendant/Respondent approached me that he intended writing a book on my role in Ghana’s history with strong emphasis on how I transitioned from military leader to constitutional governance."

According to Ex-President Rawlings after receiving the request, he "strongly insisted that I am not averse to him making me the centre of his intended political and intellectual pursuit, provided always that the Defendant will make available to me the manuscript for my prior approval for purposes of accurate historical facts and analysis."

Prof. Danso-Boafo agreed to the terms the affidavit stated.

He said a letter acknowledging receipt of the manuscript was sent to the author on March 1, 2012 in which letter "I was emphatic that I handed over the transcript to a team of literary and legal experts to evaluate and recommend amendments where necessary, given the undeniable fact that the Defendant/Respondent’s whole academic enterprise centres primarily on my person."

Ex-Rawlings said he was determined to review the manuscript because it contained "several inaccuracies, misinformation and slants which have the potential to poison Ghana’s historical records and democratic evolution as well as bring my name and family into disrepute."

He was therefore praying the court to restrain the former ambassador from launching the book because doing so will be detrimental "to me which cannot be compensated in monetary terms."