Court varies GHC 150,000 cost in Spio-Garbrah defamation case against Wontumi
Initially, the former Minister for Trade under the Mahama Administration was expected to pay the cost of GHC 150, 000 assessed by the trial High Court in its judgment.
The Court of Appeal has varied the cost awarded in favor of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling NPP, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, in a case of defamation brought by Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah.
Initially, the former Minister for Trade under the Mahama Administration was expected to pay the cost of GHC 150, 000 assessed by the trial High Court in its judgment.
Mr. Spio Garbrah sued Chairman Wontumi and his TV station for defamation, claiming damages of $10 million owing to a comment made by the latter against him on September 10, 2020, to the effect that he is a crooked businessman who duped individuals.
The respondent, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, however, contended that he made the statement per his understanding of it, attributed to Honourable Inusah Fuseini, and thus was a fair comment.
The case of defamation was however dismissed and a cost of GHC 150, 000 awarded against Sio-Garbrah.
Thus, dissatisfied with the above, he went to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the cost was excessive and without justification.
In the judgment sighted by the DL News Research Desk, the three-member panel presided over by Suurbaareh J.A. found that Wontumi failed to bring out facts that justified the cost awarded in their favor.
Additionally, the court established the fact that the trial took less than a year and also took place in Kumasi, where Chairman Wontumi resides, thus affirming that the trial court exercised its discretion wrongly.
Accordingly, the court upheld the appeal concerning the court and reduced the cost to GHC 50,000 in favor of Chairman Wontumi.
