Immediate Past Minister for Trade and Industry and a Former Deputy Energy Minister, Kobina Tahir (KT) Hammond, has sued Prime Mark Company Limited, publisher of The Herald, and journalist Larry Alans-Dogbey over a publication linking him to an alleged US$1 million AKSA bribery scandal.

In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Hammond is seeking a total of GH¢30 million in damages, comprising GH¢20 million in general damages and GH¢10 million in aggravated and/or exemplary damages.

The suit, dated August 24, 2026, also seeks a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing or circulating the statements complained of.
‘Named in Turkey trip’

The case centres on a publication carried by The Herald on or about August 17, 2026, under the headline:

“Kwabena Donkor, Amadu Sorogho and KT Hammond named in Turkey trip.”

According to the statement of claim, the publication was made in the context of what the newspaper described as an “Over US$1 million AKSA bribery scandal.”

The plaintiff says the publication referred to the alleged conviction in the United States of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwadwo Berko over his role in a bribery scheme involving more than US$1 million allegedly paid to Ghanaian officials.

The publication reportedly stated that members of Parliament who served on Parliament’s Select Committee on Mines and Energy during the controversial emergency power agreement between the Government of Ghana and Turkish energy company AKSA Enerji Üretim AŞ were among those who travelled to Turkey to inspect equipment and an emergency power plant.

The statement of claim says the publication identified then-ranking member of the committee KT Hammond among those who travelled to Turkey.

Hammond contends that, when read in its entirety and in its ordinary meaning, the publication created an implication that he was connected with or implicated in the alleged AKSA bribery scandal.

Journalist allegedly repeated allegations on Radio Gold

The suit further cites comments allegedly made by the second defendant, Larry Alans-Dogbey, during an interview on Radio Gold on August 18, 2026.

According to the court document, Alans-Dogbey repeated and discussed the publication and said that KT Hammond, Amadu Sorogho and Dr Kwabena Donkor were all in Turkey.

The plaintiff's statement of claim quotes the journalist as saying that the information was obtained from sources the defendants had dealt with over the years and that he had “cross-checked” the information.

Hammond argues that the subsequent repetition and endorsement of the allegations aggravated the alleged defamatory effect of the original publication and gave the claims further circulation and credibility.

Hammond denies involvement in bribery

The former minister categorically denies being involved in any bribery, corruption, criminal conduct or wrongdoing connected to the AKSA transaction.

He argues that his membership of Parliament’s Select Committee on Mines and Energy, and his position as ranking member, did not constitute evidence of participation in, knowledge of, or complicity in any alleged bribery or criminal conduct.

The statement of claim says the publications were false in all material respects and were calculated to damage Hammond’s personal, professional, political and public reputation.

It further alleges that the publications exposed him to public ridicule, contempt, suspicion and hostility, while undermining confidence in his integrity and suitability for public office.

Demands apology and removal of publications

According to the court documents, Hammond previously issued a formal demand requiring the first defendant to retract the publication and publish a full and unqualified apology within a specified period.

He claims that despite the demand, the publisher refused or neglected to retract the publication or apologise.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to order the defendants to:

Withdraw and retract the allegedly defamatory publications;

Issue a full and unconditional apology to him;

Publish the retraction and apology with the same or substantially the same prominence as the original publication;

Remove, delete or permanently disable access to the allegedly defamatory articles, posts, videos, recordings and other content concerning him; and

Take reasonable steps to prevent further circulation or republication of the material.

Hammond is also seeking costs of the action on an indemnity basis and any other relief the court considers appropriate.

The court document describes the plaintiff as a legal practitioner, politician and former public officer who served as MP for Adansi Asokwa from January 2001 to January 2025 and held senior government positions, including Deputy Minister of Energy and Minister for Trade and Industry.

The allegations contained in the statement of claim are claims made by the plaintiff and remain to be determined by the court.