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Claim: Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the people who sued him over his corruption exposure have all lost their court cases.
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s research showed that it is not true. Although certain court decisions in the ongoing defamation cases went in the minister’s favour, substantive matters are pending.
Full Text
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, says his many corruption exposes were motivated by his love for God and country.
Answering questions before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, the North Tongue Member of Parliament (MP) said he had no ill will or affection towards persons cited in his reports.
Ablakwa campaigned against some transactions carried out by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led government, which he claimed did not promote the well-being of Ghanaians and the country’s development.
The lawmaker exposed procurement breaches at the national cathedral, the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters, a $48 million contract single-handedly awarded by Ursula Owusu, a former communications minister, and an ambulance repair deal.
Some persons cited in the exposes, including Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, allegedly involved in procurement breaches at the National Cathedral, have sued Ablakwa for defamation.
Kusi Boateng later brought contempt charges against Ablakwa but lost at the High Court and Court of Appeal.
For reports on the dismissal of Kusi Boateng’s contempt case against Ablakwa, see here, here, and here.
In the face of this victory, Ablakwa claimed those who sued him in court over his exposes lost their cases against him.
“Indeed, those who even went to court seeking to take me to court. They lost. Check all the court cases because I make sure that I always secure unimpeachable, irrefutable and incontrovertible evidence before I put these matters out,” he told Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
See Ablakwa’s comment from minutes 1:48:22 to 1:48:41 of the video Accra-based Metro TV posted on Facebook on Jan. 31, 2024.
The social media data showed the video recorded over 230,000 views, 267 likes, and 166 comments as of Feb. 17, 2025.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim as part of its campaign against misinformation and disinformation in Ghana.
Verification
DUBAWA’s investigations revealed that contrary to what the minister alleged, the people who brought defamation suits against him over his corruption exposes have not lost their cases.
Although certain court decisions against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, went in his favour, the substantive matters remain pending.
Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, the Board of Trustees Secretary of Ghana’s National Cathedral Secretariat, is battling the minister in an ongoing defamation suit.
He cited the lawmaker for contempt but lost that battle at the High Court and Court of Appeal.
See media reports on the dismissal of Kusi Boateng’s contempt charges here, here, and here.
However, DUBAWA’s checks at the High Court showed the substantive defamation action against Ablakwa is still pending.
The court has set Mar. 4, 2025, to determine if Kusi Boateng should appear in person to testify in the ongoing case.
Also, Freddie Blay, a former National Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and his son, Kwaw Blay, sued Ablakwa separately for defamation.
The lawmaker accused the father and son of illegally attempting to acquire land belonging to Labadi Beach Hotel, a state-owned property in Accra. But they have denied the allegation.
These court actions have not yet been determined.
See media reports on the action here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion
Ghana’s court has made certain decisions in Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s favour in ongoing defamation actions against him. However, it is not true that those who sued him lost their cases in court.
