Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi)
The audio tape on which Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), allegedly passed defamatory remarks about Ibrahim Mahama, a brother of President John Mahama, was played in court yesterday.
The short tape was played in the High Court Seven in Kumasi, at the instance of Egbert Faibille Jnr, who was leading broadcast journalist and News Editor of Kumasi-based Ashh FM, Alex Amoako, when the defence team officially opened their defence in the defamatory suit.
The recorded audio captured a male voice, which the plaintiff claims to be that of Wontumi, saying President Mahama and his brother, Ibrahim, increased petrol prices often and used the proceeds to embark on luxurious foreign trips to South Africa whilst the populace suffered.
Mr Amoako, a former reporter of The Statesman newspaper, who has practised as a journalist for about two decades, after listening to the voice, stated that the tape could not have been used by any radio station in its news bulletin, since the voice of the newscaster or the station’s name was not heard on the tape.
The presiding judge, Justice Frank Adjei Wilson, adjourned the case to June 20, 2016, when Charles Zwennes, counsel for Ibrahim, who was absent in court yesterday and was represented by J.F.K. Agudetse, would cross-examine Mr Amoako.
Ibrahim Mahama, the complainant, and Wontumi, the defendant, were both absent in court.
Below is the blow-by-blow account of how Egbert Faibille Jnr led Mr Amoako to give his defence.
Faibille
Do you know Ibrahim?
Amoako
Yes, I know him to be the CEO of Engineers and Planners and a brother of President Mahama. Also, I have been following him in the media.
Faibille
Do you know Wontumi?
Amoako
I know that he is the Ashanti regional chairman of the largest opposition political party, the NPP.
Faibille
Are you aware that Ibrahim has sued Wontumi for allegedly passing defamatory comments about him (Ibrahim) during a political forum at Obuasi on March 30, 2014? Also, what did you do in relation to this case on that fateful day?
Amoako
Yes, I am aware that Ibrahim has sued Wontumi over defamatory comments. I was in my office on that day and I did not send any reporter to Obuasi on that day. Also, I did not receive any report from any of my reporters about that supposed political forum.
Faibille
As a news editor of a radio station, how do you see the English and the Twi transcriptions of the alleged defamatory remarks that Ibrahim claims Wontumi made?
Amoako
The Twi transcription is badly written so it is not easy to understand the message being conveyed. Also, it is full of mistakes (in the spellings). The English transcription, however, is nicely written but there is nothing in it to show that it was used as a radio bulletin by a radio station. Radio bulletin copies usually have the date, station name or the time that the bulletin was aired written on top of them.
Voice
Wontumi’s voice was then played in court at the request of Egbert Faibille Jnr. On the tape, a voice supposed to be that of Wontumi was heard accusing President Mahama and Ibrahim of using monies raised from frequent petrol increases for luxurious trips to South Africa at the expense of the masses.
Faibille
As a journalist with 20 years of experience, do you think this audio tape which was just played in court is a broadcast material?
Amoako
In my candid opinion, this tape was recorded at a function and it has no link with a radio station. If it was played on a radio as news bulletin, the voice of the anchor or the name of that particular radio station would have been heard on it.
Cross-Examination
Agudetse
Mr Amoako, you said you have practised as a journalist for 20 years. Have you worked as a news editor throughout your journalism career?
Amoako
Yes, I have practised as a journalist for 20 years but I have not been a news editor throughout my career as a journalist.
