Ex-Gratia Of Former MP Freezed

The court of Appeal, sitting in Kumasi, has dismissed an appeal filed by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tain in the Brong Ahafo Region, Joe Danquah, praying it to set aside a ruling by a Sunyani high Court directing him to pay GH¢31,000 as damages to the ex-assembly member of his constituency, after being found guilty of defamation.

The Sunyani High Court found the former MP guilty of defaming a former Assembly Member for Tanokrom, Num Kofi Dwomoh.

The former MP had accused the ex-Assembly Member of being a thief, for allegedly stealing 50 bags of cement meant for the community to undertake an electrification project, for his personal use. Mr. Joe Danquah had earlier on failed to appear in court to defend the case, despite several reminders sent to him, and adjournments by the judge to make room for him to defend himself.

However, upon hearing the ruling against him, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Kumasi to set aside the judgement. In her ruling, the Chairman of the three member panel, Mrs. Justice Mariama Owusu, said the court was more than convinced by the decision of the High Court, as it exhausted all the requirements of the law before pronouncing judgement.

She said, as a former MP, he should have known better by respecting the court and strictly abiding by its rulings. The court has therefore, ordered Joe Danquah to pay the GH¢31,000 damages earlier slapped on him by the Sunyani High Court.

The Court of Appeal also granted a garnishee order to be served on the Director of Finance in Parliament to freeze the end of service benefits (ex-gratia) of Mr. Danquah, to offset the damages. The counsel for Mr. Dwomoh said the victory was for the rule of law, and said Joe Danquah had seven days to pay the damages.