Defamation: Kan Dapaah wins GHC5.1 million damages against Oliver Barker

The High Court in Accra has ordered activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor to pay GH¢5 million in damages to former National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah after finding him liable for defamation.

The court also awarded GH¢100,000 in costs against Barker-Vormawor.

In his judgment, Justice (Rev.) Joseph Owusu Adu-Agyeman granted the reliefs sought by Kan Dapaah, but reduced the damages claim from GH¢10 million to GH¢5 million.

Before the ruling was read, Barker-Vormawor’s lawyers attempted to have his struck-out defence and witness statements restored. The judge rejected the application, holding that it did not fit the applicable rules.

Kan Dapaah’s suit was triggered by Barker-Vormawor’s allegation that officials, including the National Security Minister, had offered him $1 million to stop his activism, a claim the minister denied before going to court.

In September 2024, the National Security Minister at the time 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.