GHC 10 m Defamation suit: Kan Dapaah’s motion for default judgment dismissed

A motion for default judgment filed by the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, in the GHC10 million defamation suit against Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been dismissed by the court.

The court said that the rules of the court do not lend support for declaratory relief in such a matter.

In September this year, the National Security Minister sued Oliver Barker-Vormawor over allegations that the minister and other government officials tried to bribe him (Vormawor) to stop his activism.

Mr. Vormawor, who's also the Executive Director of the Democratic Accountability Lab, organizers of the recent #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest, had stated on September 22 that he was offered $ 1 million and juicy government appointments to forfeit his activism - a claim he says is backed by evidence.

However, in the suit, the Minister maintains that the allegations by Mr. Vormawor are defamatory and is thus seeking GHC 10,000,000.00 in damages.

The minister, who is the plaintiff in the matter, contended that Oliver had failed to file a defense in the matter after his filing of a conditional appearance on October 2.

Subsequently, Mr. Dapaah filed a motion for default judgment on November 20, 2023, arguing that, per his belief, the defendant has no defense and thus prayed to the court for the judgment in default.

However, appearing in court on November 29, counsel for the defendant, Justice Srem Sai noted that his side had filed a notice for preliminary objection to the same.

He added that his client has a defense to the defamation suit and is thus ready to file it.

As such, the presiding judge, Justice Adu-Agyemang, noted that the motion sins against the rules of the High Court and thus dismissed and directed counsel for the defendant to file their defence in two weeks.

The case has meanwhile been adjourned to December 14, 2023.