Minister for Roads and Highways Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has sued the Daily Guide newspaper for defamation after the publication ran a story alleging the Minister paid ‘dancehall king’ Shatta Wale Ghc 80,000 to perform at his campaign launch a fortnight ago.
The story, which was a massive one when it broke, was almost instantly denied by the Minister, who is also MP for Tamale Central and is standing for re-election. He threatened legal action against the newspaper, a process which has now been set in motion.
Western Publications Limited, publishers of the newspaper, as well as editor Fortune Alimi and Northern Regional correspondent Eric Kombat, have all been named in the suit, which would be heard before an Accra High Court.
Aside the story, a separate cartoon printed by the paper mocking the Minister is also being held as defamatory by his lawyers.
The MP is seeking Ghc 4,000 in damages, a retraction and apology to be granted the same prominence as the initial publication, cost of legal fees – as well as a perpetual injunction on the defendants from publishing anymore the defamatory words.
The MP is seeking Ghc 4,000 in damages, a retraction and apology to be granted the same prominence as the initial publication, cost of legal fees – as well as a perpetual injunction on the defendants from publishing anymore the defamatory words.