The High Court has ruled in favor of Ghanaian journalist Osarfo Anthony in his lawsuit against Asamoah Gyan, a former Black Stars captain.
As a result, Gyan has been ordered to pay GhC1,000,000 to Osarfo Anthony.
Osarfo Anthony was accused of conspiracy to extort money from Asamoah Gyan and his manager Samuel Anim Addo in 2015. After nearly four years of prosecution, Osarfo was acquitted and discharged on March 20, 2019.
Following his acquittal, Osarfo Anthony filed a lawsuit for malicious prosecution against Asamoah Gyan and his manager. The court, in its ruling, awarded Osarfo Anthony one million Ghana cedis as general damages, legal fees, and any other costs deemed appropriate.
”I just won my GHC1m malicious prosecution suit against former Ghana Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, and his manager. It is been a gutsy-8-year criminal and civil legal battle. Time vindicates me, so here I am.”
“It’s a pyrrhic victory, but there’s nothing nobler than facing your accuser mano-a-mano, clearing your name, and compensation ruled in your favour for damages suffered.
“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,” Osarfo told the media after his victory.
The ruling by His Lordship Justice Dr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaa at the Financial Court 1 of the High Court in favor of journalist Osarfo Anthony in the malicious prosecution lawsuit against Asamoah Gyan was delivered at 10:00 AM. Osarfo Anthony was represented by Yaw Dankwah, Esq. of Dankwah and Associates (Divine Chambers), while Alexander Abredu Somuah-Asamoah, Esq. of Appiade Chambers represented Asamoah Gyan and his manager.
Background
In June 2015, the Daily Guide newspaper broke a story claiming that a woman named Sarah Kwabla had accused former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, of rape and sodomy. The story gained widespread attention but was published without Sarah Kwabla’s side of the story.
Sarah Kwabla then contacted Osarfo Anthony, providing graphic photos of injuries, WhatsApp chats with Gyan, and an audio clip where Gyan allegedly appealed to her not to share any evidence publicly.
Osarfo sought Gyan’s side through his lawyer, who denied the allegations, asserting that the encounter was consensual. GHBase.com, the blog Osarfo worked for, published a series of stories covering the rape and sodomy allegations with a balanced perspective.
In response to the coverage of the rape and sodomy allegations, Nii Armah Amarteifio, a handler in Gyan’s camp, contacted the editor/publisher of GHBase.com.
Acting on Gyan’s manager’s instructions, Nii pleaded for the removal of the stories and assured financial compensation for their cooperation.
Unbeknownst to Osarfo and GHBase.com, the Gyans reported them to the police, alleging an attempt to extort money from Asamoah Gyan. Osarfo was subsequently arrested by the police after receiving funds on behalf of the publisher.