How a COCOBOD lawyer made a judge dismiss Randy Abbey’s case against Abronye

The High Court in Accra on January 22, 2026, dismissed a defamation suit filed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, against the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffour, popularly known as Abronye DC.

Presiding judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Baat ruled that Randy Abbey’s decision to use the Legal Director of COCOBOD as his counsel was inappropriate.

According to the judge, “Plaintiff issued the instant Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim on 26 August 2025, and the crux of Plaintiff's case is that the Defendant made certain broadcasts or publications which are defamatory and injurious to Plaintiff's hard-earned reputation.

“The Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim was issued by the Legal Department of Plaintiff's institution, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with the Legal Director of COCOBOD acting as Counsel for the Plaintiff. As far as the Court is concerned, this suit borders on defamationand it is trite that the tort of defamation is in personam, as it is directed against a specific individual whose reputation has been harmed.

“Although the said publications were made against the Plaintiff with respect to his current position as CEO of COCOBOD, COCOBOD is not a named party in this suit to warrant the Legal Department issuing the Writ with its Legal Director as Counsel for the Plaintiff,” the judge stated in her ruling.

The judge emphasised that since Randy Abbey sued in his personal capacity, he ought to have procured the services of a private legal practitioner rather than relying on the Director of Legal Affairs at COCOBOD.

“I therefore find the instant Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim procedurally defective, and same is dismissed. There shall be no orders as to cost,” the judge concluded, according to court documents.

Dr Abbey filed the suit on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, seeking GH¢20 million in damages for what he described as malicious and false claims made by Abronye during a public broadcast.

Court documents indicate that Abronye accused Dr Abbey of misusing public resources and engaging in corrupt practices at COCOBOD. Specifically, he alleged that Dr Abbey transported a personal chair from Accra to cocoa farms using multiple state-owned Land Cruisers, rather than using chairs provided by farmers.

Abronye further accused Dr Abbey of manipulating internal appointments to facilitate the embezzlement of public funds.

These statements, which were broadcast publicly and widely circulated on social media, were said to have caused significant damage to Dr Abbey’s reputation, exposing him to public ridicule and contempt.

In the suit, which was filed through COCOBOD’s Legal Department, Dr Abbey sought a court declaration that Abronye’s comments were defamatory. He also demanded a full retraction and an unqualified apology to be published across all platforms on which the allegations were made, as well as the removal of all defamatory content from the internet.

Barker-Vormawor weighs in on Randy Abbey's failed defamation case against Abronye

The lawsuit further sought general, punitive, and compensatory damages totalling GH¢20 million, a perpetual injunction restraining Abronye from making further defamatory statements, coverage of legal costs, and any other relief the court might deem appropriate.

Dr Abbey’s legal team maintained that the accusations were entirely baseless and aimed at undermining his professional reputation, built over years of service. They emphasised the need for truthful and responsible public discourse, particularly when it concerns individuals in positions of public trust.

AM

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