Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen has dared the National Organiser of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kofi Adams, to sue him.
Mr Adams has, through his lawyer Samson Lardy Anyenini of A-Partners@Law, written to Nana Obiri Boahen to retract and apologise for “defamatory” comments he made about him in connection with some cars found at his (Mr Adams’) residence recently by security officials.
“We hold the instructions of Mr Kofi Adams … to demand you immediately retract and apologise unconditionally for your defamatory comments widely publicised online and in the Daily Guide newspaper publication of Friday, 2 February 2017,” the letter said in relation to Mr Boahen’s claim that the five cars found in the home of the NDC’s 2016 Campaign Coordinator were not only “stolen from government”, but also had their chassis numbers changed and subsequently sold to him.
On 1 February, 15 armed men dressed in military fatigues, suspected to be soldiers, stormed the private residence of Mr Adams and seized all his vehicles. They undertook the operation in the company of four alleged National Security officers and personnel from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
According to Mr Adams, who was out of the country at the time, the soldiers ransacked his Tema Golf City home on Wednesday afternoon and seized three Pick-Ups – two belonging to his brother – as well as two Land Cruisers.
The cars, according to the soldiers, were suspected to belong to the state and were taken to the Flagstaff House. They were subsequently returned to Mr Adams following an intervention from National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, who also apologised to Mr Adams for the unsanctioned action.
On the day of the incident, however, Mr Boahen told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen political talk show that the chassis number of one of the two V8 Land Cruisers with registration number GM 843-15 was altered before it was given to Mr Adams.
“I’m telling you authoritatively that Kofi Adams’ car is a government of Ghana vehicle. It was stolen and sold,” Mr Boahen said.
Mr Adams’ lawyers say Mr Boahen’s allegations against their client has lowered his reputation and sullied his image thus his demand for a retraction and apology. “The allegations of criminal conduct with regard to vehicles which certain persons apparently acting on the instructions of state officials wrongfully and unlawfully removed from the Golf City Tema residence of our client have drawn and continue to draw the intended public scorn and reputational damage you clearly sought to achieve.
“Our client wishes, for the avoidance of doubt, to stress, unequivocally, that your allegations of criminal conduct against him are completely false and that each of the vehicles in question has the requisite documentation including of transfer from their vendors duly processed by the DVLA which registered them in accordance with law.
“The retraction and unconditional apology must contain an undertaking never to repeat said false claims and same must be given same prominence as the complained publication on especially Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM and in the Daily Guide newspaper, within seven days from the date first above.
“We have instructions to, without further notice and upon your failure, neglect or refusal, to fully satisfy our client’s demands herein, take out a suit and hold you liable for your said defamatory comments.
“Be advised accordingly,” the letter of which ClassFMonline.com has a copy, said.
In response to the threat of suit, however, Nana Obiri Boahen told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Thursday that: “I still stand by that but I don’t want us to, as it were, indulge in any prejudicial comments because the police CID are seriously doing the investigation but I still stand by what I said.”
He said: “I am ready for that [law suit]. “… To take action against Nana Obiri Boahen, I wish they could even serve me with the writ of summons and accompanying statement of claim tomorrow,” he dared.
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