In a significant development in a protracted legal battle, the Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial in the defamation case filed by veteran journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako against businessman and former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
The appellate court upheld Agyapong’s appeal against the 2020 High Court ruling, which had favored Baako. The High Court had found Agyapong liable for defamation, awarding damages and ordering a retraction and apology on the same media platforms where the statements were made.
According to reports from today’s proceedings, the Court of Appeal determined that the original judgment was flawed due to a fundamental statutory breach that went to the root of the case. As a result, the court set aside the High Court’s decision and directed that the matter be retried afresh.
The case stems from defamatory statements allegedly made by Agyapong against Baako, leading to the suit filed in 2018 or 2019. Baako had sought to clear his name and secure remedies, while Agyapong has consistently challenged the initial verdict through appeals, including attempts to introduce fresh evidence.
Both parties now face a renewed trial, prolonging one of Ghana’s most prominent media-related defamation disputes. Further details on the retrial timeline are expected soon.
This ruling underscores ongoing tensions between press freedom and public commentary in Ghana’s high-profile figures.