The Court of Appeal is poised to deliver a crucial ruling on a defamation suit filed by Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, who is seeking an injunction to prevent Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, from making public statements about him in connection with the National Cathedral controversy.
This marks Rev. Kusi Boateng’s third attempt to secure such an injunction after previous failures in both the Human Rights Court and a high court last year. Known also as Adu Gyamfi, Rev. Kusi Boateng has faced significant challenges in his legal campaign to silence Ablakwa, who has been vocal about issues surrounding the National Cathedral project.
In July of the previous year, the Human Rights Court dismissed a similar application from Rev. Kusi Boateng, mirroring an earlier decision by another high court. Undeterred, his legal team has brought additional arguments before the Court of Appeal in hopes of finally achieving a favorable ruling.
Thaddeus Sory, representing Ablakwa, has raised a critical objection to the appeal. Sory contends that the panel hearing the case is not properly constituted according to constitutional requirements, which he argues undermines his client’s right to a fair trial as guaranteed under Article 13 of the 1992 Constitution.
The legal tussle has garnered widespread media attention, reflecting the high stakes and public interest in the National Cathedral issue and the broader implications for freedom of speech and the right to fair judicial proceedings in Ghana.