Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has filed a defamation lawsuit against journalist Collins Atta Poku and the owners of Sompa TV/FM, Teraone Media Limited, seeking GHC 30 million in damages, reports say.
The lawsuit alleges that the journalist and the media company made defamatory and libelous statements against Okraku during their sports programs aired on November 18 and November 28, 2024.
In a statement of claim filed at the High Court, Okraku accused the defendants of publishing false accusations that defamed his character and brought him into public disrepute.
The claims include allegations of misappropriating funds intended for Black Stars players, mistreating defender Daniel Amartey, and improperly acquiring buses for Division One League clubs.
Okraku’s lawyers argue that during a program aired on November 18, 2024, Collins Atta Poku accused Okraku of dishonestly deducting a certain amount from the USD 3,000 allocated to each Black Stars player by former Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo prior to their departure for the last AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
The suit further cites the journalist claiming that this deduction led to a confrontation between Okraku and Amartey, resulting in Amartey’s exclusion from the national team, despite his inactivity. Amartey has not played for the Black Stars since the tournament, with his last appearance being the 2-2 draw against Mozambique in 2024.
On November 28, 2024, the journalist made another claim that the renowned transport management company O.A. Travel and Tour cleared nine buses meant for Division One League clubs on behalf of the GFA, following a proposal amid financial difficulties in clearing the buses at the port.
However, it was alleged that the transport company replaced the brand new 35-seater buses with second-hand models after completing the clearance, a claim that the GFA has vehemently denied.
Additionally, Poku claimed that another transport company, V.I.P Jeoun Transport Services, rejected the initial proposal to clear the buses for the GFA after unsuccessful attempts to involve the government.
The GFA has described these assertions as fabrications. Okraku’s lawyers have stated that these claims are malicious lies designed to tarnish his reputation. They argue that the statements depict Okraku as corrupt, vindictive, and unfit for office.
The claim asserts that these statements have seriously harmed Okraku’s personal, professional, and business reputation. Furthermore, since these allegations have spread widely through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, Okraku has faced international ridicule.
“The Plaintiff has suffered irreparable harm to his personal, professional, and business reputation, and unless restrained, the defendants will continue publishing similar falsehoods,” it said.”
As a result, Okraku is seeking GHC 30 million in damages, a public retraction, and an apology from the defendants. He demands that the apology be broadcast on the same media platforms for three consecutive days with the same prominence as the original allegations.
He is also requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing further defamatory materials about him.
