Akufo Addo, Please Forgive Retired Justice Kpegah

By Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK

Until Thursday May 2, 2013, when I saw the photo of retired Justice Kpegah after the High Court dismissed his suit against Nana Akufo Addo, I was of the strong view that Nana Akufo Addo MUST counter sue retired Justice Kpegah for libel, defamation and wrongful accusation or prosecution. I had this strong view because in my view, that is the only way Nana Akufo Addo could stop such frivolous and vexatious suits and allegations against himself. Again, I also felt strongly that this particular accusation or suit was a disgrace not only to the accused but Ghana as whole, since Nana Akufo Addo was once the Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Ghana.

Unfortunately or fortunately, I have changed my view that Nana Akufo Addo should counter sue. Instead, I am pleading with Nana Akufo Addo to find a place in his heart to forgive retired Justice Kpegah. Whenever Nana Akufo Addo prays, he should also say some prayers for Kpegah.

The photo I saw of the retired Justice made me ask if, retired Justice Kpegah is also Article 71 benefactor in Ghana and if so, how come he is deteriorated to this extent. The man is not himself. If he undertook this endeavour on his own volition, then he should also go down on his knees to pray to (his) God for forgiveness and ask for the same from Nana Akufo Addo. On the other hand, if he was encouraged by some misguided politicians to do so, then such people should bow their heads down in shame.

I hear there are plans to appeal the High Court judge’s decision to dismiss the case. Such talk is delusion, insanity and madness. I also understand the judge refused to award cost against the plaintiff, which though harsh on the defendant was reasonable but should the appeal go ahead, then they must be prepared to pay for the cost of the defendant and additional punitive cost for wasting judicial time and resources.

The last time I posted article on this matter on Ghanaweb, I attached a pdf document, which I received from the Head of Education Services at the Middle Temple as evidence of Nana Akufo Addo being called to the English Bar in 1972. I asked for a link to the document for the benefit of readers but that was not done (see “Akufo Addo was Called to the English Bar”, Ghanaweb, April 13. 2013). I have copied the document into Word and now making it available for your own eyes (seeing is believing).

This document is a true record of lawyers called to the English Bar and Mr William Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is recorded second under number 13 of the January 1969 list on page 34 of the document. I believe this record because the Middle Temple will not go to the extent of forging a document to prove that Nana Akufo Addo was called to the English Bar. Again, this is a historical document in the public domain and is available at the British Library for all to see. As you can read from the document, there was another Ghanaian by the name, Martin Edmund Awuah who is recorded second under number 20 on page 35 of the document.

As Ghanaians we should stop destroying ourselves but support and encourage each other.

Kofi Ata, Cambridge