Democracy Hub sues Cheddar for defamation over “false and malicious” claims
The case, filed at the High Court, centres on statements Mr Bediako made on 25 and 26 September 2024, which the plaintiffs say wrongly portrayed their movement as a political proxy engaged in sponsored protests.
.jpeg)
A prominent Ghanaian civil-society group, Democracy Hub, together with 12 of its leading members, has filed a defamation suit against businessman and political figure Nana Kwame Bediako, widely known as Cheddar.
The case, filed at the High Court, centres on statements Mr Bediako made on 25 and 26 September 2024, which the plaintiffs say wrongly portrayed their movement as a political proxy engaged in sponsored protests.
In their pleadings, Democracy Hub and activists including Oliver Barker-Vormawor insist the comments are baseless and contradict their public record.
They argue that since its formation, the organisation has worked strictly within the boundaries of constitutional activism, championing citizen engagement, accountability, and the right to peaceful protest.
Campaigns such as #FixTheCountry, #OccupyJulorbiHouse, and #StopGalamsey, they say, have all been funded and organised transparently, without direction from any political party.
The plaintiffs maintain that Mr Bediako’s claims distort this history and risk undermining the integrity of civic mobilisation in Ghana.
The activists are asking the court to declare Mr Bediako’s statements false, malicious, and defamatory, and to affirm that the publications have unlawfully damaged their reputations.
They further request an order compelling the defendant to issue a full and unambiguous retraction and apology, to be published on his X (Twitter) account with the same visibility and duration as the original videos and in any additional media the court considers appropriate.
The suit also seeks:
General damages for reputational harm, distress, and loss of public confidence
Aggravated and exemplary damages, citing what they describe as the defendant’s malice, repeated publications, and refusal to correct the record,
And a perpetual injunction restraining further repetition of the allegations.
They say the scale of dissemination—amplified by Mr Bediako’s political campaign—has worsened the injury caused.
