Shatta Wale, Bulldog agree settlement terms in principle over defamation case
Popular dancehall artiste, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, also known as Shatta Wale and his former Manager, Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, aka Bulldog have reached an agreement in principle to settle the defamation suit out of court. On April 18, 2023, lawyers for Shatta Wale requested for a month for further negotiations after lawyers for Bulldog indicated the parties failed to reach agreement. Back in court after a month, Lawyers for Shatta Wale announced to the Court that, the parties have now agreed settlement terms in principle. He, therefore, prayed the court for a month adjournment for the parties to draft the terms of settlement and same filed to the court for its adoption as a consent judgement. The High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu, adjourned the case after lawyers for Bulldog, corroborated the information given to the court that the parties have reached settlement terms in principle EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, gathered that one of the terms of the settlement is to include a public apology to Bulldog. Background On March 7, the dancehall artiste through his lawyer requested the court to oblige them an out of court settlement, which was granted. But the parties failed to reach a settlement when they appeared in court on Tuesday, April 18. Dr Justice Srem Sai, counsel for the Plaintiff (Bulldog), said negotiations have failed and the parties were back in court for its further directives. But, counsel for Shatta Wale, Lawyer Selasie Atuwo said the will to settle the matter is mutual for both side but the issue was about the quantum of amount. He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment to enable the parties try to settle the matter. “The will to settle the case is there for both side but the issue now is about the quantum of amount. If we may be given a date to try to settle,” lawyer Selasie Atuwo told the court The court presided over by Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu, while adjourning the case to May 16, urged them to try and settle the case before the next court sitting. Shatta Wale was dragged to court by Lawrence Asiamah Hanson also known as Bulldog for defamation and the plaintiff is seeking damages for the alleged defamation and same for malicious publication of falsehood against him by the defendant. “The series of publication that the Defendant has made and continues to make about the Plaintiff are actuated by plain malice,” the writ filed by Bulldog’s Lawyer, Justice Srem-Sai said. Reliefs The plaintiff is seeking the following reliefs 1.A declaration of the Court that the series of publications made by the Defendant as particularised in the Statement of Claim are defamatory to the Plaintiff. A declaration of the Court that the series of publications made by the Defendant in the Statement of Claim are malicious. An order of the Court directed at the Defendant to on all his social media pages or accounts, make a publication on seven (7) consecutive days of an unqualified retraction of and unreserved apology for the defamatory words that the Defendant has published about the Plaintiff, such retraction and apology to be vetted and approved by the Plaintiff’s lawyers. An order of the Court for perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, workmen, assigns and servants from publishing or further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiff. General damages for defamation. Special damages for defamation. Punitive damages for malicious publication of falsehood against the Plaintiff. Cost, and Any other orders or remedies that the Court may deem fit Subject matter On November 02, 2022, Shatta Wale was said to have made a publication on his Facebook page implicating his former manager, Bulldog in the murder of Fennec Okyere among others. Upon this the Ghana Police Service to open investigations into the defendant’s publications. Fennec Okyere, who was the manager of controversial musician, Kwaw Kese, was murdered at his Manet Gardens residence on the Spintex Road, Accra on Thursday, March 13, 2014 by unknown assailants. He died at age 31. Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson, was picked up by the Police Criminal Investigative Department (CID) as a suspect in the death of Fennec Okyere. This was because Bullgod (then known as Bulldog) who had regular beefs with Fennec Okyere, had supposedly threatened him in an interview. In 2017, the courts, on the advice of the Attorney-General that there was no evidence against the accused, discharged Bulldog. —Starrfm—
MTN holds AGM, declares dividend of 12.4 pesewas per share
MTN Ghana has held its 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 30th 2023. Updating shareholders on the company’s performance for the year 2022 at the AGM, the Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael E. Yamson, indicated that MTN Ghana’s performance for 2022 was strong with a total revenue growth of 28.4% Year-on-Year underpinned by good execution of the commercial strategy by management, resulting in growth in voice, data and Mobile Money (MoMo) revenues. “MTN is committed to improving the lives of Ghanaians through appropriate and sustainable socioeconomic interventions. Over and above the investment in MTN’s network and IT systems, the organisation allocated ¢28.3 million to undertake health, education and economic empowerment projects in 2022 through the MTN Ghana Foundation,” Dr. Yamson indicated. At the AGM, a dividend of 12.4 pesewas on ordinary shares was approved and will be paid to all shareholders on 22 June 2023. This brings the total dividend for the 2022 financial year to 16.4 pesewas per share following the interim dividend of 4.0 pesewas per share paid on 22 September 2022. This represents 70.6% of profit after tax and a 42.6% Year-over-Year (YoY) increase in dividend per share paid in 2022 over 2021. Speaking at the AGM, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh enumerated MTN’s commitment to driving growth and unlocking value for all stakeholders through its Ambition 2025 strategy. He said, “We are confident in the medium to long-term prospects of Ghana’s economy and as such, MTN commits to continue to invest efficiently in infrastructure and to improve the capacity and quality of connectivity and other related services for our customers.” Touching on MTN’s digital initiatives, Mr. Adadevoh said “MTN will continue to lead the adoption of new innovative solutions that solve relevant problems for Ghanaians. MTN will deepen the ongoing work to improve its platforms, particularly MyMTN and Ayoba Apps, as well as MoMo as part of MTN’s three-app strategy to enhance customer choice, customer experience and to deliver on MTN’s commitment of excellence to its cherished customers”. “The communities we operate in remain core to everything we do and to this end, MTN continues to extend various sustainable projects and initiatives to improve communities across the country with a focus on building and growing digital skills among the youth, with a particular focus on females”, Mr. Adadevoh stated. Since its listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) in 2018, the company remains the organisation with the largest number of Ghanaian shareholders. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
Akufo-Addo’s 167-day forced leave directive to Domelevo ‘unconstitutional’ – Supreme Court determines unanimously
The Supreme Court of Ghana has determined, in a unanimous decision, that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s directive to Daniel Yaw Domelevo to proceed on a protracted leave, while he was the Auditor-General, as unconstitutional. Also, the apex court determined as unconstitutional, the president’s appointment of an Acting Auditor-General during that leave period. Following a letter of protestation to the president’s 123-day ‘proceed on leave’ directive, Mr Domelevo incurred an additional 44 more forced leave days in a response from the presidency, making it 167 days, effective 1 July 2020. Civil society groups and individuals condemned the directive and sought interpretation from the apex court. One of them was US-based Ghanaian law professor, Kwaku Asare, who sued the Attorney General over the matter. Prof Asare, in a suit, prayed the Supreme Court for “a declaration that the President’s appointment of Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu to act as the Auditor-General is inconsistent with or is in contravention of the letter and spirit of articles 187(1), 187(7)(a)”. “An order directing the president, his agents, assigns, privies, servants and whomsoever of whatever description to cease and desist from issuing directives to the Auditor-General”. Read his full prayer to the court below: Prof Kwaku Asare wanted the Supreme Court to declare that except for stated grounds in Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, the Auditor-General’s tenure cannot be disturbed by presidential directives, whether couched as accumulated leave, involuntary leave, suspension, interdiction, temporary removal, disciplinary control, or however styled, and he may remain in office until he attains the compulsory retirement age of 60. He also wanted the court to declare that the President’s directive to the Auditor-General to hand over all matters relating to his office to Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu is inconsistent with or is in contravention with the letter and spirit of Articles 187(1) and 187(7)(a) of the Constitution, 1992. A declaration that the president’s appointment of Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu to act as the Auditor-General is inconsistent with or is in contravention of the letter and spirit of Articles 187(1), 187(7)(a). An order directing the president, his agents, assigns, privies, servants and whomsoever of whatever description to cease and desist from issuing directives to the Auditor-General. An order directing the president, his agents, assigns, privies, servants and whomsoever of whatever description to cease and desist from exercising disciplinary control over the Auditor-General. An order directing the president, his agents, assigns, privies, servants and whomsoever of whatever description to cease and desist from assessing the work, including the financial administration, of the Auditor-General. An order directing the Auditor-General to resume performing his constitutional functions. An order directing Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu to cease and desist from performing the role of an Acting Auditor-General. An order invalidating any decisions taken by Mr Akuamoah Asiedu subject to ratification by the Auditor-General. An order of interlocutory injunction to restrain Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu from performing the functions of Acting Auditor-General, pending the final determination of the substantive suit. An expedited hearing of the motion for injunction and the substantive cause given the important financial watchdog role played by the Auditor-General and the irreparable harm that any delay will cause to the financial systems and the integrity of the Constitution. Any other reliefs that the court deems necessary in the exercise of its legal and equitable powers. Cost for court expenses and legal service fees. —CLassfm—
Green Ghana Tree Planting: Make traditional rulers the in charge and stop sharing money for yourselves in the name of planting trees–Bongo Chief
The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyarum has said, the only way the Green Ghana tree-planting project could succeed, is simply by allowing the Traditional rulers to take charge. He insists that nothing less than that only amounts to sharing money with themselves and party supporters. This year’s Green Ghana Day celebration has been announced to take place on Friday, June 9, 2023, on the theme: “Our Forest, Our Health” and Government has planned to plant 10 million trees during this year’s celebration. Meanwhile, the government has approved GH₵2.5 million for this year’s Green Ghana budget. When Apexnewsgh.com engaged the Bongo paramount Chief in an Exclusive Interview, the Chief registered serious displeasure, especially with the manner those in authority spend state resources each year in the name of Green Ghana tree planting. “Why is it that we can’t plant trees to reclaim the environment? When the money comes they are directed to Forestry and they politically politicize everything. They will go and just pick their supporters and say they are going to plant trees and they won’t plant the trees but they will be paid the money and nothing can be done”. He said “The mahogany trees along our roadside were planted by our colonial masters. They paid people to plant those trees and take care of them, they paid people, it was not for free”. Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyarum, believes the Green Ghana Tree Planting is a good initiative but managed badly by the authorities in charge. “Why can’t they use the traditional rulers? If for instance, the government says we are entrusting the planting of trees to Bongo Traditional Councils and we are given 100,000 seedlings to plants and for 5 years, we want to raise 20 million from Bongo and now in my traditional council I have 42 chiefs under my jurisdiction, and I say in every village, a chief should get 50 youth to plant trees and each person should be able to plant 10 trees and take care of them to survive and you must make sure that when one dies you must replace it. So, if 50 people are planting 10 trees each and grow them won’t Bongo become a forest? And let’s say, every month the person knows he or she is supposed to take Ghc 300.00 each to make sure the tree survived in all the 42 communities”. Chief explained “So, if people are made to plant trees and they make sure the tree grows will they cut them? And we will even encourage them to plant economic trees and trees they can use as fuel wood. The women should be planting fuel wood and the men should be planting some economic trees. So, if Bongo traditional area is doing this, Kessena traditional area is doing this and all the traditional areas are doing this and in the region, we have 18 paramount Chiefs with 18 traditional councils doing the same work, why won’t we succeed?” Asking what could be the reason the government did not entrust the Green Ghana tree-planting project to traditional rulers. Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyarum said: “They believe that we the chiefs cannot be accounted for. Tell me a chief who will not be accounted for what he is expected to do. And you are not giving him the money alone, you are also employing some staff to manage the fund. After all, the chief is not going to be the accountant himself, there must be an accountant, there must be people working, the chief will only give directive”. Traditional councils are supposed to be functioning and supporting the government in its developmental activities and the chiefs are also responsible to play the role of government. He stressed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062