The South Dayi MP, Hon. Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has sued the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Hon. Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, for what he describes as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation through a social media post made on the microblogging platform “X”, formerly known as Twitter.
The writ of summons, issued on May 13, 2025, and served to Reverend Ntim Fordjour, demands that he enter an appearance within eight days or risk judgment being entered against him in absentia.
The suit stems from a post made by the defendant on May 8, 2025, in which he alleged that Dafeamekpor, who serves as a Chief Whip of the Majority Caucus in Parliament and was once the vice chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee in the eighth Parliament, had been involved in an alleged bribery scheme involving the embattled former Director-General of the National Signal Bureau, Kwabena Adu Boahen.
According to the plaintiff, the defendant’s post read: “Hon Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor MP for South Dayi and Majority (NDC) chief whip in Parliament, was vice chairman to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation at the time Adu Boahen allegedly paid GHC 360,000 to the Committee for passing an L.I. Is it not fair that a transparent probe is conducted for Hon. Dafeamekpor to appear and answer questions, to confirm or deny the serious allegation levelled against his Committee? When the probe begins, NDC and every other person indicted will take their turns to explain how much of the GHC 49 million they looted. The probe is necessary and cannot be evaded. They should therefore get ready with their responses.“
Hon. Dafeamekpor insisted that the statements are patently false, malicious, and were made without evidence.
Reputational Damage
In his Statement of Claim, he argues that the post was calculated to bring him into public disrepute and had, in fact, succeeded in drawing negative reactions from the public, thereby diminishing his standing among right-thinking members of society.
The suit details that the defamatory statements have not only caused damage to his reputation but have also led to economic harm, emotional distress, and a disruption to his professional and political engagements.
Hon. Dafeamekpor further stated that the malicious post has injured his reputation as a respected lawyer and lawmaker with years of dedicated service in the public sphere.
In the legal reliefs being sought, the South Dayi legislator is asking the court to declare the defendant’s statements false and defamatory.
He is also requesting an interlocutory injunction to restrain Reverend Ntim Fordjour and his associates from further publishing similar statements until the final determination of the case.
Beyond the immediate gag, the plaintiff is seeking a perpetual injunction to bar the defendant from making or disseminating any future defamatory content about him.
He further prays the court to compel the defendant to retract the defamatory statements and issue a public apology, both in a national newspaper and on the same X account through which the original post was made, with equivalent prominence.
Monetary Damages
Hon. Dafeamekpor is requesting monetary damages for the harm done to his reputation in the form of general damages, aggravated damages, punitive damages, and compensatory damages in addition to injunctive relief.
In addition, he asks for any additional orders the court thinks fit and demands that the defendant pay all legal fees associated with the lawsuit.
Given that it involves two MPs from Ghana’s two main political parties, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the case is anticipated to spark both legal and political interest.
Hon. Dafeamekpor’s legal action signaled a zero-tolerance approach to political smear campaigns, particularly in the digital sphere. He is already well-known for his courtroom activism and litigious engagements on constitutional and parliamentary matters.
Regarding the suit, Reverend Ntim Fordjour has not yet provided an official response. It’s unclear if he plans to contest the issue in court or seek an out-of-court settlement.
The case’s verdict could establish a major precedent in Ghana’s defamation law, particularly with regard to remarks made by public servants on social media.
It also highlights the obligations of legislators to uphold civility and factual accuracy in public debate, especially in the highly divided political environment of Ghana.
