The Akyem Abuakwa State Secretary, Mr Daniel Marfo Ofori Atta, has dragged Media General Ghana Limited and member of the Movement for Change, Hopeson Adorye to court for allegedly defaming him.
In a writ of summons sighted by The Independent Ghana, the plaintiff, Mr Ofori Atta, noted that some words used by the 1st Defendant (Hopeson Adorye) on the 2nd Defendant’s (Media General) platform on July 26, 2024, on Onua Maakye show were unjustifiably used without any sort of proof.
On the said show, Mr Ofori Atta says Mr Adoye was “given the unfettered and unrestrained opportunity and indeed was encouraged to run an unjustified commentary on a document titled “Agyapade3” in relation to the himself, the entire membership of Ofori Panin Fie and Okyeman.”
Mr Adorye, per the writ of summons, is quoted to have said,” Look, have you seen this document? It is called Agyapadeɛ. Do you see it? Please capture it well so that everyone can have a look at it. I am not saying anything just from my head. It is alleged that a particular family wrote this Document (Agyapadeɛ). How they can amass the wealth and property of Ghana for themselves, their sons and generations to come.
“So, whoever wrote the forward or signed the forward has signed Ofori Atta here. Now with the forward, take a look at the first paragraph. It says, “to our future, made up of the present, and the unborn, generations are those whom we are creating this nation’s wealth for. Do you hear that? You have given power to someone to serve you, however, someone has decided to use that power to accumulate the entire wealth of Ghana for his future generations and we are quiet.”
“We have abandoned it; we have abandoned it. Look, if you go to the banking sector, how Databank is being utilized to do everything, including all the loans we are taking, is all about one family. For us we are “galaway” people. When you speak about it, someone within the NPP will stand up against you to defend this rot. Meanwhile you will be suffering out there. They say, “to our future, present and unborn”.
“If you read everything in the document, it tells you that this tribe is going to be the movers and shakers of Ghana. That means should anything happen, whatever they say is what everyone must follow.”
“I know… the name of the writer. His name has been mentioned here. He is my very good friend. He is my very good friend. I will mention his name to you as we are moving on. I will tell you his name. His name has been mentioned alongside his co- writers and others. They are in charge of certain things. The technical team led by D. M Ofori Atta should further evaluate the following details in order to choose the appropriate sites, galamsey. According to this, they have three hundred and thirty-two (332) galamsey companies.”
“They are all here, look, Northern Gold Coast Enterprise, so, so and so, Wassa Amenfi East, Tarkwa Nsuem Municipal. Every district they are there. Prestea, Nzema East… they have divided themselves all over. So, who told you that galamsey can be eradicated? Who told you that? It can be eradicated only if there is a change of government.”
“However, they were kicked out of parliament. If that wasn’t the case, a particular family would have been in charge of all royalties and other benefits from our mineral resources. How can we live in a country like this? They have mapped out areas that cover the entire gold deposit in Ghana. They have taken over all these mapped areas.”
Mr Adorye is said to have mentioned Mr Ofori Atta’s name as the co-writer of the Agyapadie document.
“I mentioned it. D. M. Ofori Atta. It stated that he is a co-writer. He is a friend of mine and I know him. And if you glance at the page that talks about the hijacking of GBC (laughs), it will never work. Now the judiciary governance in Ghana (laughs). It has been stated in here in the document. Let’s pack the court so that in the next twenty years they can be in control. Are you surprised more people are being nominated to the supreme court?” a part of the writ read.
Mr Ofori Atta is therefore praying the court to recover the sum of GH¢10,000,000 as general damages including aggravated and/or exemplary damages for defamation.
He also wants the defendants to offer an apology and retraction of the words complained of.
Again, he has asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agents or assigns from repeating similar or other defamatory words against him.
The controversial 38-page document titled ‘Agyapadie,’ which prominently features the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, alongside President Nana Akufo-Addo and his late father, has resurfaced, reigniting discussions about its contents.
The document, whose author remains unidentified, is believed to outline strategies for a particular family or clan to establish significant influence and control over key sectors of Ghanaian society, including the economy, politics, media, judiciary, telecommunications, and banking.
On August 1, 2024, President Akufo-Addo addressed growing speculation about the document, which is purported to be a strategic plan of the Akyem faction within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The president and the government New Patriotic Party (NPP) have dismissed the document as a fabrication, attributing its circulation to political adversaries aiming to discredit the party and its affiliates.
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has also denounced the document as a baseless creation by those intent on sowing discord and inciting animosity towards the Ofori Panin family and the Okyeman community.