High Court grants Vormawor extra time in Kan-Dapaah Case
The High Court has granted an extension to Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who failed to meet the court’s deadline for submitting his statement of defence in the defamation case brought against him by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister for National Security of Ghana.
The legal dispute originated from allegations made by Mr Barker-Vormawor, who claimed that during a meeting with Mr Kan-Dapaah, he was offered a substantial sum of $1 million to cease his activism.
In response to these accusations, the National Security Ministry issued a statement denying the bribery claims.
Despite this, Mr Barker-Vormawor granted a media interview promising to release an audio, and that he recorded the said meeting where the offer was made.
Subsequently, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Mr Kan-Dapaah filed a lawsuit against Barker-Vormawor, seeking a declaration that the words uttered were defamatory.
The Minister is also pursuing GH¢10 million in damages, including Aggravated and/or Exemplary Damages for Defamation, an apology, retraction of the statements, a perpetual injunction against further defamatory remarks, and legal costs.
Upon being served with a writ of summons and a statement of claim on October 27, 2023, Mr Barker-Vormawor was given a two-week deadline by the court to file his statement of defence.
However, he failed to meet this deadline, prompting Mr Kan-Dapaah’s legal team to file a motion requesting the court to proceed and pass judgment due to Mr Barker-Vormawor’s non-compliance.
In a turn of events, on November 29, 2023, the High Court displayed leniency towards Mr Barker-Vormawor after a plea from his lawyers for an extension of the deadline.
The court granted the extension, clarifying that this decision does not imply a dismissal of the original suit filed by Minister Mr Kan-Dapaah.
The case is now adjourned to December 14, 2023, as presided over by His Lordship Joseph Adu-Owusu Agyemang, allowing Mr Barker-Vormawor the opportunity to file his defence.
The legal proceedings are expected to continue, ultimately leading to a full hearing on the merits of the case.
