GNASSM files GH₵1.5 million defamation suit against Philip Bawa and others

The national leadership of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has taken legal action against three former members of the association accused of libel and defamation.

The summons shows that the plaintiff is raising legal charges against the defendant for publicly making untrue comments and publishing them in certain media that slander and defame his image, exposing him to public ridicule.

The plaintiff herein represented by GNASSM President, Philip Kwasi Akuffo, Vice President Sampson Wiredu and Secretary Godwin Nii Armah, submits that the defendants, namely Philip K. Bawah, Daniel Kwaku Mensah (DKM) and Yawa Amoafo, who are former members of the small-scale miners association, have seriously damaged its image in the eyes of the public and must be held accountable for their actions by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The association’s authorities described the publication of various accusations against them, accusing them of lack of responsibility, exploiting rank-and-file members for personal gain, allocating some concessions intended for national distribution to certain directors, and demonstrating unprecedented levels of greed and corruption, as defamatory.

The joint petition filed in the Kumasi High Court and issued by the plaintiff’s counsel, represented by Nana Akwasi Osei Bonsu Esq., calls on the court to analyse the evidence presented and hold the defendants accountable through equitable remedies.

The plaintiff is seeking an apology from the defendant, the publication of a rejoinder in the various media where the defamatory publications appeared, and damages of GH₵500,000 from each person.

In the lawsuit filed on June 25, 2024, the plaintiffs accused the defendants that the publication in various media was not only false, malicious and reckless, but also intended to expose the plaintiffs to public contempt, hatred and humiliation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.

In this regard, they also request the court to: “Order the defendants to publish three times in a row on the same platforms where the defamatory words appeared, a correction and an apology with the same meaning as was given to the publication of the defamatory words addressed to the plaintiff.

“We also seek an injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns and employees from further publishing any defamatory comments about the plaintiffs, and further costs including legal fees.”

At the Extraordinary General Assembly of GNASSM held on 25 June 2024, it was alleged that the three accused had created an association that did not function and failed to attract members, with the strategy therefore being to destroy GNASSM by attacking its leadership in order to attract public attention.

Members from all 13 mining districts in the country present at the meeting rejected the claims contained in the press release by Philip Bawah and company that it did not reflect the views and aspirations of all members.