The former Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa and erstwhile Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Kwabena Tahir Hammond (KT Hammond), has filed a defamation lawsuit at the Accra High Court against popular media personality Blessed Godsbrian Smart, known as Captain Smart, and his employers, Media General.
A writ of summons issued on January 16, 2025, and seen by ParliamentNews360, requires the defendants to respond within eight days or risk judgment being entered against them in their absence.
Allegations of Defamation
In the statement of claim, Mr. Hammond alleges that Captain Smart and Media General caused harm to his reputation through remarks made on their program “Ghana Decides 2024 – Election Command Center – Abatoɔ Asodɛɛ” broadcasted on December 9, 2024.
The contentious statements, reportedly attributed to Mr. Hammond, suggest he made ethnically charged remarks following his loss in the 2024 elections. The former MP is alleged to have said:
“How can an Ewe person unseat me? Eh, eh? Why would an Ewe person be the one to take the seat from me in an Ashanti township?”
The plaintiff argues that the publication and subsequent widespread republication of these remarks portrayed him as tribalistic and intolerant, causing severe damage to his character, reputation, and public standing.
Demands from the Court
Mr. Hammond, through his legal representatives, seeks the following reliefs:
- Damages: Including special, aggravated, and exemplary damages for libel.
- Injunction: A restraining order preventing the defendants from further publishing or republishing the alleged defamatory statements.
- Public Retraction and Apology: An order compelling the defendants to retract the statements and issue an apology with equivalent prominence, archived on all their media platforms, including TV, radio, and social media channels.
- Removal of Content: The removal of the defamatory content and its republications from all media and internet platforms.
- Costs: Compensation for costs incurred in prosecuting the case.
- Other Reliefs: Any additional orders the court deems appropriate.
Background
Mr. Hammond had, on December 16, 2024, through his lawyers, demanded a retraction and apology from Captain Smart and Media General for their alleged remarks. The defendants are yet to publicly respond to the allegations or the court summons.
The case highlights ongoing debates about media responsibility, political accountability, and the boundaries of free speech in Ghana’s democratic space.
Source: Clement Akoloh/parliamentnews360.com
