The Court of Appeal dismissed Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng’s case against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for several reasons:
The court could not conclusively establish the appellant’s identity because different identities were presented during the proceedings. This inconsistency was seen as a fundamental flaw that invalidated the appeal.
Even if the identity issue had not arisen, the court noted that the appeal would likely fail on its legal merits. Ablakwa’s statements were found to be factual and related to matters of public interest, particularly concerning concerns about alleged financial irregularities in the National Cathedral project.
The court recognized that Ablakwa’s comments were made in the public interest, which further weakened Kusi Boateng’s defamation claim.
The court awarded GH¢40,000 in costs against Kusi Boateng, highlighting that the appeal was fundamentally flawed.
