GHC 10 m Defamation suit; Vormawor insists that Kan Dapaah made monetary, other offers to him

Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor is insisting that the National Security Minister indeed offered him money, airplane tickets, public appointments, etc. to procure him to abandon his activism but rejected the same.

According to him, his refusal has led the minister to cause and conspire in causing his arrest, detention, torture, and the false prosecutions he has been facing since February 2021.

In his Statement of Case signed by Justice Srem-Sai of the Praetorium Solicitors, Oliver is thus praying the Honourable Court to make a declaration in that regard and offer him damages, costs, and any other orders it may deem fit.

At the last court sitting, Oliver Barker Vormawor, who is the defendant in the suit was given one week to file his Statement of Defense after his lawyers pleaded for an extension.

As such, on January 12, 2024, Oliver duly filed the Statement of Defense, in which he recounts that he and his fellow FixTheCountry subscribers were invited to a meeting on May 10, 2021, by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command after his arrest.

He adds, however, that after arriving at the meeting, they were driven to a place and taken to a room full of ministers, including the plaintiff, at which the government officials offered an appointment to them save they would abandon their activism.

Moreover, he states that in a subsequent phone conversation with the plaintiff, the latter made an offer of money and other facilities to facilitate his coming to Ghana but he rejected the same.

Also, he adds that there were subsequent meetings, specifically the one held in the plaintiff’s vehicle, where he made several representations to him and offered to give him money and help him contest for a parliamentary seat.

The defendant thus indicates that his refusal has led to a series of planned arrests, torture, harm, and prosecutions machinated by the plaintiff, who is the National Security Minister.

Plaintiff’s case

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, organisers of the recent #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest, 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.

In his affidavit in support, the Minister admits that there were two cordial meetings that he convened as National Security Minister to give audience to FixTheCountry activists in the interest of peace.

He thus states emphatically that there were no inducements or threats of any sort made to Oliver nor any member of the group of activists present.

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