A malicious prosecution lawsuit has led to an order from the High Court requiring former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan to pay GhC1,000,000 to Ghanaian journalist Osarfo Anthony.
In the year 2015, Osarfo faced legal action for allegedly plotting to demand money from Samuel Anim Addo, the manager of the former Sunderland striker, and himself. Osarfo was cleared and released on March 20, 2019, following nearly four years of prosecution.
The former Black Stars captain and his manager were sued by the plaintiff for malicious prosecution after he was found not guilty.
On Friday, December 8, Osafo Anthony won the lawsuit and is pleading with the court to award a cost of one million Ghana cedis as general damages, legal fees, and any other cost the court deems right against the Defendants.
“I have triumphed in my GHC $1 million malicious prosecution case against the manager and former captain of the Ghana Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan.” Eight brave years of criminal and civil litigation have passed. Following his triumph, Osarfo told the media, “Time has vindicated me, so here I am.”
“It’s a pyrrhic victory, but nothing is more noble than going head-to-head with your accuser, clearing your name, and having a compensation ruling in your favor for damages suffered,” he continued.
“With malice, they sullied my image with unfettered, ill-themed allegations – and subjected me to public animus. In the end…there’s no harvest justification. To all who have in one way or the other been accused falsely before, you can relate, let’s ride on the crest of a new wave together.”
RULING ON THE CIVIL CASE
The judge for the case, His Lordship Justice, Dr Ernest Owusu-Dapaa (Justice of the Court of Appeal) sitting with additional responsibility at the High Court, passed his ruling at 10:00 AM in Financial Court 1 of the High Court.
Osarfo was represented by Yaw Dankwah, Esq. of Dankwah and Associates (Divine Chambers), while veteran, legal luminary, Alexander Abredu Somuah-Asamoah, Esq. (Appiade Chambers) represented Gyan and his manager.
BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
In June 2015, Daily Guide newspaper exclusively broke a story, which claimed that one Sarah Kwabla is pressing rape and sodomy allegations against the famed, former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, now a retired footballer.
The story, which gained wild national attention, was published by the newspaper without the victim’s (Sarah Kwabla) side of the story. Sarah contacted Osarfo with graphic photos of her bloody butt and thighs, WhatsApp chats with Asamoah Gyan, and Gyan’s voice note — in which he can be heard — appealing to the girl not to show any evidence to the public.
Osarfo got in touch with Gyan’s lawyer for Gyan’s side of the story. The lawyer flatly denied Sarah’s allegations. He maintained that Gyan had consensual sex with Sarah. Having had a balanced story, the blog Osarfo worked for, GHBase.com, published a series of stories on the rape and sodomy allegations.
One of the handlers in Gyan’s camp named Nii Armah Amarteifio, acting on the instructions of Gyan’s manager, contacted the editor/publisher. Nii pleaded for the stories to be pulled down, and further publications discontinued. The said Nii also assured the publisher that Gyan is prepared to offer financial tokens to register his appreciation.
On the blind side of Osarfo and his media house, the Gyans had reported them to the police – accusing them of attempting to extort money from Baby Jet. Upon receiving the funds on behalf of the publisher, Osarfo was rounded up by the police.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF JOURNALIST
In the criminal trial titled The Republic vs. Osarfo Anthony and 3 others, suit number: D2/60/16, Circuit Court 9, Accra, Osarfo was prosecuted for conspiracy to extort and extort money from Asamoah Gyan. Osarfo’s defence counsel was popular lawyer Maurice Ampaw, and lawyer Lamtiig Apanga for the publish
SOURCE: Citnews
