Doe Adhaho Goes To Court Over Rape Allegation

Accra - The Member of Parliament for Avenor and Majority Chief Whip, Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho has gone to court over allegations that he raped a married woman on the night of March 27, 1999.

In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, lawyers of the MP accused Mr. P.O.C. Babbah of Avenorkpehe of defaming the character of Hon. Doe Adjaho in a letter headed "Mr. EK.D. Adjaho Avenor Constituency Member of Parliament and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament committed rape", and distributed widely on the 24th of December 1999.

In the said letter the defendant who was described as an unemployed assemblyman, is reported to have written that "Mr. Adjaho willfully decided to rape and raped a married woman in the night of Sunday, the 27th March, 1999."

Calling for disciplinary measures to be taken against the MP to serve as deterrent, the defendant wrote that the "disgraceful crime committed by no mean person than an MP holding such highly respectful and sensitive position (in) Government cannot be over looked".

In the letter which was sent to the President of the Republic, and the Speaker of Parliament, P.O.C. Babbah is said to have stated that the act had been hijacked by the two main opposition parties, the New Patriotic Party and National Reform Party" who are due to use it to discredit and embarrass the NDC."

In his statement of claim, Hon. Doe Adjaho said he has not raped any woman, has never been found guilty of the crime, or been convicted by any court for the offence of rape and that the defendant had "no basis whatsoever for making the references, accusations and allegations" against him.

According to Hon. Doe Adjaho, as a lawyer, Member of Parliament and Majority Chief Whip, the defamatory letter has caused him great embarrassment, inconvenience and discomfort.

His statement of claim said that the letter was only published with the intent to malign, defame and embarrass him since there was no basis for the allegations.

Plaintiff is therefore suing for damages against P.O.C. Babbah for defamation in libel and for costs.

It would be recalled that back in April this year, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Akatsi, Victoria Nazzah Gidigloh sent a seven- page petition to the President of the 31st December Movement Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and other leading members of the NDC that recounted acts of the MP aimed at destroying her "person, destabilize my administration, the NDC party and the District."

The DCE also accused the MP of attempted rape in her room "in the middle of the night of March 27, 1999."

The DCE described the alleged encounter "as a ploy to humiliate me and peddle me as a moral misfit".

Hon. Doe Adhaho denied the allegations against him and said he only heard about them when his attention was drawn to a petition by Mr. Babbah who as constituency propaganda secretary of the NDC at Avenor, had called for action to be taken against the MP- a move seen as taking sides with the DCE.

The former Senior State Attorney said the accusation was an attempt made to soil his reputation for fighting corruption in the Akatsi Assembly.

The impending court action is thus the latest twist in the on going battle for control in the constituency.