FM radio station before court for libel

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) -- Otec FM radio station in Kumasi and three individuals, Kofi Nyame alias 'Macho', Atta Gyebi and Kwabena Konadu Forson alias "KK", have appeared before a High Court in Kumasi for libel.

The suit was brought against them jointly by the Reverend Ebenezer Adarkwa-Yiadom, founder and leader of the Ebenezer Miracle Centre at Ahenema-Kokoben near Kumasi, his wife, Sophia Brenya and Mrs Nancy Opoku, a member of the church.

They are seeking claims for damages and perpetual injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their agents, servants or otherwise from further publication of libellous statements about them.

Rev Adarkwa-Yiadom and the two others are also seeking for any further order or orders or relieves as may be deemed just by the court.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs said about three months ago, Nyame, Gyebi and Forson wrongfully, intentionally and maliciously launched sustained attacks on their reputation, making statements they knew were untrue.

They stated that the defendants broadcast to the hearing of many that Rev Adarkwa-Yiadom was flirting with female members of his church including Mrs Opoku and that immediately after her wedding, Mrs Opoku sucked the penis of the Rev Minister and was given 500,000 cedis to pacify the husband.

Nyame, Gyebi and Forson were also said to have asked that Mrs Opoku and Brenya should go for HIV/AIDS test.

The plaintiffs maintained that these statements were broadcast on Otec FM radio station during its Akan programme "Awawasem" on Friday, November 22 and again on November 29, this year.

They held that by those statements, the defendants meant and understood to mean that Rev Adarkwa-Yiadom was a phoney, adulterer, fornicator and an HIV/AIDS carrier and so are his wife and Mrs Opoku.

Prior to the publication of the said libellous statements, the plaintiffs said the radio station's agent, Addai Gyateng in the company of some members of the "Awawasem" panel visited the Reverend Minister to verify the truth or otherwise of the said libellous statement and were told that they were not true.

They said thereafter, the panel demanded 10 million cedis from the Rev Adarkwa-Yiadom through his wife to drop the libellous statements, which he refused.

The plaintiffs said they had suffered great damage to their hard won reputation and greatly lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of society.

There is a great decline in the growth of the Ebenezer Miracle Centre and the business activities of Mrs Opoku and Brenya, they added.