Old video of Sefa Kayi warning Sammy Gyamfi on defamation resurfaces amid GH¢10m suit

An old video in which renowned broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi was advising the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD), Sammy Gyamfi, against defaming people has resurfaced online after the latter sued popular media personality Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, also known as Afia Schwarzenegger, for allegedly defaming him.

In the video, Kwami Sefa Kayi, who expressed surprise that Sammy Gyamfi had defamed him by accusing him of using his radio platform to "perpetuate fraud and hypocrisy," remarked that Gyamfi had the courage to appear on the same show.

According to Sefa Kayi, Gyamfi used those words against him on Okay FM, a sister radio station of Peace FM. When Sefa Kayi confronted him, Gyamfi apologized in a private telephone conversation.

However, Sefa Kayi insisted he told Gyamfi to apologize publicly using the same platform (Okay FM), but Gyamfi refused to do so. Instead, he reportedly asked other NDC communication members to go on various radio stations and repeat the defamatory words.

Consequently, on the morning of Friday, April 12, 2019, when Gyamfi walked into the studio of Peace FM as a panelist on a show hosted by Sefa Kayi, the host expressed surprise that Gyamfi "was able to come on his show after insulting him on another radio station."

He, therefore, asked him to leave the studio.

Sammy Gyamfi, initially sounding unapologetic, expressed the view that Sefa Kayi’s show should not be used to settle personal scores and that, in his opinion, the matter had already been addressed during their private telephone conversation.

But Sefa Kayi insisted he was not using his programme to settle scores. He believed Gyamfi had defamed him, and his party communicators were actively repeating the defamatory remarks to damage his reputation.

"I drew your attention to it, and you [Gyamfi] did nothing about it. The only other opportunity I have is on my show," he said.

"So for you to come here and sit on this show, I am surprised, because I would not have been able to go on that person’s platform."

Sefa Kayi maintained that he had no other option but to use his show, especially since Gyamfi had appeared on it. He felt compelled to use the opportunity to express his displeasure, saying, “I'm not going to hide it.”

He further gave Gyamfi the following advice:

"I think nobody has defamed you before or lied about you publicly. You are growing in politics and in public life. One day, when someone does the same thing to you, you will understand me, when really, all you have left is your name, your reputation. Today, it may seem very trivial to you, but one day, you will understand. Especially when your children are growing up, you're married, you have a successful law career, I know you're a smart guy, and someone defames you, you will understand why I am doing what I am doing today. You know the saying, 'social media doesn't forget.' One day, someone will Google my name, and that story will appear. So it's not trivial, and it's not that I’m bringing up old issues. I feel pained that you did that."

Meanwhile, Sammy Gyamfi has initiated legal action against Afia Schwarzenegger, asking the court for GH¢10 million in damages for alleged defamation.

According to court documents sighted by GhanaWeb, Sammy Gyamfi accused Afia Schwarzenegger of defaming him in a publication in the Twi dialect.

The publication, as quoted in the court document, claimed that the media personality accused Sammy Gyamfi of cheating on his wife.

“Tell Sammy Gyamfi's wife that I am greeting her. Her husband is still buying cars for girls in Legon. I am holding the list. What will make you know that I am holding the list is that I am going to call my informant… I am calling my informant. Akumaa, be wild, be wild, that Sammy Gyamfi's girl, I have forgotten her name, send it to me again. Yes, and add the whole list. Yes, send it to me. Send everything. I am waiting.

“So, tell Sammy Gyamfi's wife that her husband is doing a lot of work at Legon, he is really working there. But truly, what will his wife even say?” Afia is quoted as having said in the court document.

The CEO of the GOLDBOD, who is also the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), through his lawyer, said the comments made against him are defamatory.