Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi in the Ashanti region has filed a lawsuit against Kumasi-based private legal practitioners Kwame Adofo at the Kumasi High Court, accusing him of defamation and seeking 5 million cedis in damages.
In the writ of summons filed on May 27, 2024, Prof. Addai-Mensah alleges that Kwame Adofo’s publications on his Facebook timeline have caused irreparable damage to his reputation and image.
The KATH CEO claims that the defendant’s statements have been defamatory and have caused him significant pain.
The background of the case is that Kwame Adofo, a lawyer, served as Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATK) legal representative for five years.
After his contract expired almost two years ago, KATH publicly advertised the position, and Lawyer Nana Fredua Agyeman Osborne was selected as the new legal representative.
Since then, Kwame Adofo has made several Facebook posts attacking the integrity of Prof. Addai-Mensah, including claims of financial impropriety.
The KATH CEO is seeking a court declaration that the defendant’s statements are defamatory and an order for the defendant to publish unqualified retractions and apologies in three subsequent editions of the Daily Graphic Newspaper.
Additionally, Prof. Addai-Mensah is seeking 3 million cedis in general damages and 2 million cedis in exemplary damages for the defendant’s malicious conduct.
He also seeks other costs, including legal costs, to be awarded against the defendant.
Prof. Addai-Mensah has an impressive background, having worked as a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for 16 years before his appointment as KATH CEO 18 months ago.
He has held various positions, including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Vice Dean of Students, and Deputy Director of Student Affairs at KNUST.
He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana.
Attached is the defamation suit.