Gabby Otchere-Darko sues Frimpong-Boateng for defamation: Demands GH¢10m damages over Galamsey claims

Member of Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has taken legal action against former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, for defamation.

Otchere-Darko’s move came after Prof. Frimpong-Boateng accused him of interfering in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, which the Professor chaired, in his 2021 galamsey report.

In his lawsuit filed at the High Court in Accra on April 28, 2023, Otchere-Darko is seeking GH¢10 million in damages from Frimpong-Boateng.

He also demands a retraction and apology for the allegations made against him, stating that Frimpong-Boateng’s accusations are wrongful and twisted facts. Furthermore, Otchere-Darko is requesting an order for a perpetual injunction to restrain Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and his agents from repeating such defamatory statements.

According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Otchere-Darko defended a company that was actively destroying the environment, despite there being a suspension on the issuance of licenses for operations in forest reserves at the time.

However, Otchere-Darko claims he did nothing wrong by defending the company and was merely seeking information on behalf of his client.

In response to Otchere-Darko’s legal action, Frimpong-Boateng dismissed the claims, accusing him of having a pixelated view of the illegal mining landscape in Ghana.