The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah has refuted allegations of defaming astute legal practitioner, William Fugar, in his autobiography published in October 2023.
A letter written by his Lawyer, Azanne Kofi Akainyah in response to the claims justified the section of the autobiography that referred to proceedings before Cecilia Koranteng-Addow J, at the Accra High Court in 1979 as true representation of the fact.
According to Lawyer Azanne Kofi Akainyah, the words contained in the autobiography of Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah are to the effect that Mr William Fugar abandoned a case and his clients on 11 April 1979.
The lawyer for the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana further stated that the decision of Mr William Fugah to abandon the case caused the case to be subsequently dismissed by the court when it came up for hearing on 17 April 1970.
“I refer to your letter, dated 21 December 2023 sent to my client Professor lvan Addae-Mensah following the publication of his autobiography. My Life – A Historical Narrative’. Your letter was copied to Digibooks Gh Ltd, the publisher of the book and, for some reason, also to Justice Sophia Akuffo. You have stated that some words on page 4]5 of the autobiography are defamatory. My client denies that such is the case.
“You claim that these words have since they were published “lowered our client in the estimation of right thinking members of society generally, and in particular, have cause[d] our client to be treated with abhorrence, derision, disdain, odium, opprobrium and scorn” not only in Ghana but in Africa and the world at large. ln this regard it is pertinent to point out that the autobiography was published only in October 2023. Firstly,
Lawyer Azanne Kofi Akainyah
Again, Lawyer Kofi Akainyah posited that Professor lvan Addae-Mensah bears no ‘animosity’ or ‘malice’ toward Mr William Fugah and does not in any way seek to question his integrity.
He recounted that the autobiography published by Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah is a historical narrative which in part discusses the ‘internecine machinations’ that transpired within the People’s National Party (PNP) during the period of transition to civilian rule in 1979 when some party members sought to prevent Mr Egala and Dr Limann from taking office as President and Vice President of Ghana respectively.
According to Lawyer Kofi Akainyah, the account of the event by Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah in his autobiography is not current affairs but rather a distant history.
Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah Acknowledges The Eminence Of Mr William Fugah
Moreover, Lawyer Kofi Akainyah stated that Professor Ivan Addae Mensah recognizes and acknowledges the eminence of Mr William Fugah as a legal professional with an established and solid reputation built over many years, particularly since 1979.
Lawyer Kofi Akainyah thus relayed the surprise of Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah on the claims that within the short period since his autobiography was published any ‘right-thinking’ people would consider that Mr William Fugah is a ‘negligent’ and ‘carefree’ lawyer who does not take his job seriously.
“In My client’s opinion, any person who can come to such a perverse conclusion is clearly not ‘right thinking’. ln the circumstances it comes as a surprise to my client that a Notice of Demand has been issued to him in this instance. This is an open letter in which my client unhesitatingly affirms the good reputation of your client. it should be sufficient therefore if Mr Fugar would treat this matter in the same manner as he has previously treated the words in the Daily Graphic and the biography of Hilla Limann”.
Lawyer Azanne Kofi Akainyah
In addition, Lawyer Kofi Akainyah asserted that in writing the autobiography, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, a renowned academic of repute, relied on records, in the public domain, hence it is ‘ironic’ for Mr William Fugah to request for a publication of a retraction and an apology in the Daily Graphic when it is the very same ‘Daily Graphic’ which published the event at page nine of its edition on 12 April 1979.
According to him, there is no available evidence or record of Mr William Fugah ever challenging the publication of the said news in the Daily Graphic since its publication in 1979 and as subsequently stated by Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah on page 36 of his Biography of Dr Hilla Limann which was published in 2016.
“Daily Graphic published ([presumably accurately) on page nine of its edition on 12 April 1979. The words: ‘Counsel abandons Case against Egala, Limann’. A counsel, yesterday abandoned a motion for an injunction filed against Mr Lmoru Egati, Chairman and Dr Hilla Limann presidential candidate, both of the People National Party (PNP) at a High Court in Accra.
“Mr William Fugar Edem had filed the motion … seeking to restrain Mr Egala and Dr Limann from acting or holding themselves up as Chairman and presidential candidate for the party until the determination of a writ of summons filed against them, The abandonment was promoted by the listing of the case for early hearing in view of the urgency of it”
Daily Graphic Publication on 12th April 1979 as quoted by Lawyer Azanne Kofi Akainyah
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