Embattled Central regional 1st Vice-Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Horace Ekow Ewusi has admitted before an Accra High Court he lied about ace investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr following the expose on galamsey fraud, MyNewsGh.com reports.
He told the High Court he does not have any evidence to back the lies, neither can he afford the 25 million Ghana cedis the plaintiff was demanding as damages. He pleaded for an out of court settlement so he could do the needful.
In a retraction and apology to that effect, he said “on the 1st day of March 2019, I caused to be published and made several statements on Adom TV’s, “Adom Badwam” program hosted by Omanhene Kwabena Asante against Mr. Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr which are defamatory.
“That in discussing issues surrounding illegal mining, I uttered words to the effect that Mr. Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr and Anas Aremeyaw Anas together with Aleska C & G and Heritage mining were involved in ‘galamsey’ activities destroying Ghana’s forest.
“I further stated that Mr. Kweku Baako came to plead on behalf of Aleska C & G and Heritage Mining to Professor Frimpong Boateng and attempted to bribe Charles Bissiw and Professor Frimpong Boateng on two occasions first with two hundred thousand dollars and later upped it to two million dollars.
“The said allegations are false and same should not have been made on the progamme. In this regard, the comments made are incorrect is most regrettable.
“I, Horace Ekow Ewusi, do hereby apologize and unconditionally and unreservedly retract the allegations and comments made against Mr. Abdul Malik Kweku Baako and his associates during the discussions on the aforementioned television program.
“I finally, undertake not to further publish or reproduce the said allegations.”
