AGNES ASANTE vs ATTA PANIN
2025
HIGH COURT
CORAM
- HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE CYNTHIA MARTINSON (MRS
Areas of Law
- Tort Law
2025
HIGH COURT
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
In the High Court of Justice at Nkawkaw, the plaintiff, Agnes Asante, accused the defendant, Atta Panin, of defamation. She sought declarations, damages, and legal remedies after the defendant made harmful public statements about her. The defendant resisted the claims but did not testify, leading the court to base its judgment on the plaintiff’s evidence. The court found the defendant defamed the plaintiff, awarded GH¢40,000 in damages, and issued an injunction against further defamation.
26/03/2025
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUDICATURE, IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE HELD AT NKAWKAW EASTERN REGION ON WEDNESDAY THE 26 TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 BEFORE HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE CYNTHIA MARTINSON (MRS), HIGH COURT JUDGE
SUIT NO. C4/02/2022
AGNES ASANTE
VRS.
ATTA PANIN
PARTIES:
Plaintiff present.
Defendant absent.
LEGAL REPRESENTATION:
Richard NkrumahAmos Esq. appears for the Plaintiff.
No legal representation announced for the Defendant.
JUDGMENT
The plaintiff claimed per her amended writ of summons filed on 2 th of May, 2023 as follows:
a. A declaration that the statement the Defendant made in public about the Plaintiff constitutes defamation of the Plaintiff and same has negatively affected the Plaintiff's marriage, her status in her family, her church and community.
b. An order of the Honourable Court directed at the defendant to offer an unqualified apology to the plaintiff for defaming and harassing the plaintiff which said publication must be published on the local information centre of the community or any other appropriate platform deem fit by the Honourable Court for at least 14 continuous days.
c. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, assigns, associates, privies, and all those claiming through him from further publication of any defamatory statements against the plaintiff; from harassing the plaintiff; from invading the privacy of the plaintiff; and from circulating any information or material concerning the plaintiff to any third party and the plaintiff herself.
d. General damages of GHC 80,000.
e. Punitive damages against the defendant for harassing and defaming the plaintiff.
f. Costs including solicitor's fees.
g. Any other order or orders as this honorable court may deem fit.
The defendant filed a defence resisting the action. At the close of the pleadings the following issues were adopted for hearing:
1. Whether or not the statement/comment the defendant made in public about the plaintiff constitute Defamation of the plaintiff.
2. Whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to any damages due to the defendant defamatory statements/comments about the plaintiff that have among other things destroyed the plaintiff's reputation, brought her pain and further caused problems in her marriage.
3. Any other issues raised in the pleadings.
When the matter came up for hearing, the plaintiff testified under oath and called a witness. The defendant did not appear to testify in court even though