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Accra High Court strikes out Ken Ofori-Atta's GH¢10 million defamation suit against Captain Smart
via GhanaWeb2 min read
An Accra High Court has dismissed a GH¢10 million defamation lawsuit filed by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta against broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, also known as Captain Smart. The court, presided over by Justice Francis Obiri, struck out the case on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, citing a lack of prosecution. The decision was made under Order 36 Rule 1 2 b of CI 47, as the plaintiff had repeatedly failed to actively pursue the case. Records showed the case had been adjourned 18 times, but Ofori-Atta appeared in court only three times, with his last appearance on May 20, 2024. The court rejected an application for adjournment from Ofori-Atta's counsel, Bright Okyere-Adjekum. The lawsuit stemmed from alleged defamatory comments made by Captain Smart on a television program, where he claimed Ofori-Atta took a 10% cut from Ghana's dealings with the International Monetary Fund and other loans. Ofori-Atta described these statements as "palpably false, absolutely fabricated… also deliberately calculated to disparage" him. The court emphasized its authority to dismiss or strike out an action for want of prosecution if the plaintiff fails to attend court. No costs were awarded to the defendants.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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