The High Court in Accra has expressed concerns over the delay in the GHc5 million defamation case filed by actress Martha Ankomah against Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win.
The court’s concerns stem from the absence of Lil Win and his lawyers, despite both parties agreeing to file their terms of settlement by April 1.
Actress Martha Ankomah filed a GHc5 million defamation suit against Lil Win over alleged disparaging comments he made about her in public.
The comments were allegedly made in response to Martha’s statement about not collaborating with Kumawood actors due to their perceived lack of quality storylines.
Lil Win approached Martha for an out-of-court settlement, and the court adjourned the case to finalize the settlement.
On April 14, 2025, Martha’s lawyer, Nii Appiatu Plange, informed the court that they had submitted all agreed proposals for Lil Win to sign, but had not heard back from his team.
“I sent the agreed terms to defendant’s lawyer for defendant to sign in the middle of March but as I speak, I have not heard anything from Counsel,” he said.
Lil Win’s representative, Jalila Sumaila, who was holding brief for substantive counsel Margeret ADJEI-Twum’s brief attributed the delay to the lead counsel’s illness and the documents now sent to the defendant to sign. She subsequently requested for an adjournment.
“My instructions are that the terms have been given to defendant to sign and substantive Counsel is not well hence praying for a date,” Sumaila told the court.
Nii Appiatu Plange said, reflecting the plaintiff’s stance, said “We will oblige them a last adjournment and if they fail to sign then we proceed with the matter.”
Justice Forson Agyapong Baah expressed dissatisfaction with the defendant’s team’s conduct, stating, “I honestly thought today we were going to adopt the terms of settlement.”
“This dragging of feet in signing the terms is not good for anybody.”
The court adjourned the case to May 14, 2025, for Lil Win to sign the terms of agreement, warning that failure to do so would lead to the case proceeding.
“If at the next adjourned date, (May 14, 2025), the terms have not been filed the case shall proceed,” the Court said.
The court emphasized that “it’s taken too long to settle the matter.”
