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Former Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond, has filed a defamation lawsuit against broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, widely known as Captain Smart, over alleged derogatory comments made during a broadcast on Onua TV.
The legal action stems from claims made by Captain Smart and his co-host, suggesting that Mr Hammond made tribal remark questioning how an individual from a tribal descent could win the Adansi Asokwa parliamentary seat in the Ashanti Region.
The controversy erupted following the December 7, 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections, where Mr Hammond, who contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), lost his seat to Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi Dorani of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During a television programme December 9, 2024 on Onua TV’s, Captain Smart and his co-host allegedly attributed the statement to Mr Hammond.
Mr Hammond has refuted the claims, arguing that the comments, both directly and by implication, paint him as a tribalist who refuses to accept the election outcome when a Ghanaian of a different heritage wins in the Ashanti Region.
He asserts that the broadcast and its subsequent wide circulation have tarnished his reputation, subjected him to public mockery, and caused him emotional distress.
As part of his lawsuit, the former legislator is seeking multiple legal remedies, including:
Damages: Special, aggravated, and exemplary compensation for defamation due to the broad dissemination of the alleged remarks locally and internationally.
Injunction: A court order preventing Captain Smart and his team from making any further defamatory statements about him.
Public Retraction and Apology: A directive compelling the defendants to retract the statements and issue a public apology with equal prominence across their media platforms, including television, radio, Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
Content Removal: A mandate to take down the defamatory content from all online platforms, including third-party publications.
Legal Costs: Full coverage of all expenses incurred in pursuing the lawsuit.
Other Reliefs: Any additional measures the court finds necessary.
source: graphic.com.gh
Yaw Boagyan
