Oliver Mawusi Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of the #FixTheCountry movement, has extended an offer to represent former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, in the ongoing defamation suit brought against him by Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party.
Barker-Vormawor, who is also a private legal practitioner, has pledged to provide his legal services free of charge as a gesture of appreciation for Professor Frimpong Boateng’s instrumental role in the establishment of Ghana’s only Cardiothoracic Centre, which saved Barker-Vormawor’s brother’s life when he was just six months old.
In a Facebook post, Barker-Vormawor explained that his brother’s life was saved thanks to the life-saving procedures carried out by Professor Frimpong Boateng’s team. He recounted a touching childhood memory when he walked to the Ghana Commercial Bank to donate his lunch money to the Cardio Fund which was being advertised on television. He further stated that he would be honoured to represent the former minister in the lawsuit brought by Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko, who is seeking damages of GHȼ10 million.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, in his defamation suit, has accused Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng of defamation in relation to the former minister’s report on illegal small-scale mining in Ghana. The report, authored by Professor Frimpong-Boateng during his tenure as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, contained a list of NPP officials who were allegedly hindering the fight against illegal mining.
Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko is demanding GHȼ10 million in general damages, including aggravated and/or exemplary damages for defamation and libel. He has also requested an apology and retraction of the allegation made against him, as well as an injunction to prevent Professor Frimpong-Boateng from repeating the allegations.
The former minister’s report had implicated several prominent NPP officials, including Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Minister for Information, Laud Commey, and Joseph Quam, among others. These officials have denied any wrongdoing, with some accusing Professor Frimpong-Boateng of being equally culpable.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s report also detailed how Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a cousin of the president and an influential member of the ruling NPP, had called him to question his decision to order the dislodgement of equipment belonging to mining company Imperial Heritage. The report further accuses Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko of acting as a lawyer for the mining company, which was allegedly destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and polluting and diverting the course of the River Offin. Professor Frimpong-Boateng informed the President of this behaviour and was promised that it would be dealt with accordingly.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko countered that the former minister had misconstrued his role as a lawyer and had unfairly accused him of interfering in the matter. He stated that the conversation between him and the former minister lasted only four minutes and ended with the former minister expressing his view that the mining company should not have been issued with a license.