UG SRC president sues vice president

Accra, April 30, GNA - The president of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana, Ms. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor has filed a suit at the High Court in Accra against Nii Adokwei Cudjoe, the vice president of the SRC, for defamation.

Ms Donkor, together with Ms Emilia Affi Agbenyo, SRC Secretary, and Ernest Twum-Barima, SRC Treasurer, are suing Nii Adokwei and Mr James Mckeown, a student of the University, for defamation.

The plaintiffs are claiming a perpetual injunction to restrain the two defendants from further publishing the defamatory statement, general damages for defamation, special damages of 12,000 Ghana cedis, a publication in the Graphic and other media which broadcast the defamatory statements to retract them and costs.

In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs said Nii Adokwei on April 22 "published certain untrue statements" about them which had caused them a lot of embarrassment and subjected them to ridicule and contempt. According to the plaintiffs, Nii Adokwei said they were corrupt, had looted students' funds and abused their office for personal gratification.

Ms. Donkor added that Nii Adokwei also falsely stated that the New Patriotic Party spent more than 10,000 GH cedis on the campaign of the two of them and spent more money to bribe and rig the election for them.

Ms. Donkor also said Nii Adokwei falsely stated that the plaintiffs had influenced nominations to the General Assembly of the SRC, committees, commissions, council and boards in order to pack it with NPP members.

"The plaintiffs state that the untrue statements made by the first defendant (Nii Addokwei) have caused the plaintiffs serious embarrassment, ridicule and contempt and that the statements amount to a defamation of the plaintiffs."

In an affidavit in support of motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, Ms Donkor said Mr Peter Otokunor, President of the Junior Common Room of Commonwealth Hall of the University convened a special meeting on April 28 to pass a vote of no confidence in the plaintiffs upon a petition written by Mr James Mckeown and other students.