UCC VC wins defamation case against National Tribute Newspaper, GH¢2.3m damages awarded

A whopping GH¢2.3m has been awarded as damages to the Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and Director of Physical Planning and Development and Estate Management, Philip Ntim Owusu in a legal battle against the National Tribute Newspaper.

According to a press release by the institution, the newspaper on June 21, 2018, and July 12, 2018, published highly defamatory articles about Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and Philip Ntim Owusu.

The articles which were captured under the headlines, “UCC VC, others hot over dubious deals as BNI starts investigation” and “VC and others in more troubles” sought to suggest that the aforementioned personalities were involved in scandalous IT-related contracts and appointments.

But at the end of the legal battle in a Cape Coast High presided over by Justice Emmanuel Lodoh on June 29, 2020, damages of GH?1.5million has been awarded in favour of the “Vice-Chancellor and GH?800,000 in favour of the Director of Physical Development and Estate Management."

"A cost of GHc20,000 was also awarded to each plaintiff.”

Below is the full statement: