Alleged conflict of interest: Rev Kusi Boateng secures injunction against Ablakwa's further publication

The Executive Council member of the National Cathedral Board, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has secured an order restraining Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, from making public disclosures of his private information and those relating to property he owns.

In an order of interim injunction signed by Justice Barbara Tetteh-Charway, Justice of the High Court, it reads: “Upon reading the Affidavit of Kwabena Adu Gyamfi alias, Kusi Boateng and upon hearing the submissions of Bobby Banson Esq, with him Emmanuel Yebaoh Gyan, counsel for the applicant, it is hereby ordered that the Ist Respondent, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is restrained from making further public disclosures of private documents, correspondence, communication and property belonging to the applicant.”

The MP in recent weeks had made allegations bothering on conflict of interest and corruption against Rev Victor Kusi Boateng concerning some aspects of the financing of the National Cathedral project. 

The Allegation

The MP alleges a ‘scandalous’ transfer of GHS 2.6 million cash from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited whose directors are said to be Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun, and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi who remains a mystery figure.

It adds that per his investigation, the above mystery figure is Rev Kusi Boateng who is alleged to be using multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth.

Additionally, the MP notes that the Pastor’s Diplomatic Passport issued to him on November 25, 2021, rather bears the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and not Rev Victor Kusi Boateng and has two Taxpayer Identification Numbers.

Also, the petition notes that the REV Kusi Boateng has a host of companies that he operates under the name; Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and has registered some of them to engage in small-scale mining.

He alleges a conflict of Interest in the dealings of the man of God relative to his payment of the sum of GHS 2.6 million from the National cathedral account to his own company for no work done.

Petition

The MP on January 16 also petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the matter, in addition to other demands that Rev Kusi Boateng should resign from the Board of the National Cathedral. 

Substantive suit

In his substantive suit in which he is suing the MP for defamation, he maintains that statements made by Mr. Ablakwa are “not only misleading but calculated to injure his reputation." 

He also argues that public disclosures by Mr. Ablakwa of his personal private information are in breach of his rights to privacy under article 18 of the Constitution.

Again he avers that the “unlawful publication” of his private information by Mr. Ablakwa has exposed him to the risk of identity theft and internet fraud since Mr. Ablakwa's actions have caused his personal information to be published worldwide. 

He is thus seeking the following reliefs:

1.An order directed at the Defendant to publish on the same platform that he published the defamatory words as well as a full page of the Daily Graphic Newspaper, on six consecutive occasions over a 6 month period, an unqualified retraction and an apology;

2. An order for perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, assigns and servants from further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiff;

3 General Damages for defamation;

4.Costs; and any other order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit.