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General News of Wednesday, 21 June 2006

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

No Show By A-G As Daily Guide Withdraws Subpoena

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THE MUCH awaited appearance of the Attorney-General (AG) before an Accra Fast Track Court (FTC) to testify in a case in which the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, had sued Western Publications - publishers of the Daily Guide - for libel, has turned into a hoax.

The AG has declined defendant's request to testify in the case in view of a criminal court proceeding brought against Mrs. Rawlings for causing financial loss to the state, a subject of contention in the pending suit, the court presided over by Mrs. Justice Iris May Brown was informed yesterday.

Accordingly, the defendant, who issued the subpoena against the AG, withdrew its request and the court has fixed July 4, 2006 for the two parties to address the court.

The former first lady sued the Daily Guide and two of its Editors, Mrs. Gina Blay and Ato Sam (alias Baby Ansabah) for libel, following a publication on the front page of The Daily Guide in its July 6, 2005 edition captioned, 'Milking the Sacred Cow - KONADU OWES ¢2.8 BILLION - to the state'.

The plaintiff is however demanding general damages, including aggravated and/or exemplary damages for libel in respect of the words published by the defendants on the front page of the Daily Guide.

Mrs. Rawlings is further asking the court to restrain the defendants from further publishing similar or other libelous statements and/or stories on or about her in addition to costs and other reliefs that the court might deem necessary.

On the other hand, the defendants in their statement of defence pleaded fair comments saying the words together with the story published were matters of public concern.

The Attorney General was subpoenaed by counsel for the defendants, Mr. Godfred Dame Yeboah, to testify in the matter before the court. Prior to this, counsel subpoenaed the Auditor-General, who testified as to whether or not the former first lady was indebted to the state, following the divestiture of the GIHOC Nsawam Cannery as published by the Daily Guide.