Embattled popular Kumawood Actor, Kwadwo Ankansah has finally managed to convince Actress Martha Ankomah to settle the GHc5 million defamation suit out of Court after agreeing terms of settlement.
Terms of the agreement was struck on Tuesday February 25 after initial break down in negotiations was announced in open Court.
Following the agreement the parties are to file the terms of settlement and appear in Court on April 1, 2025 for it to be adopted as a consent judgment by the Court presided over by Justice Forson Baah Agyepong.
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, an initial proposal from Lilwin and his representative to pay GHc150k which includes GHc50,000 legal fees was flatly rejected as lawyers of the Plaintiff (Martha Ankomah) described it as an “eyesore.”
“We have been chasing the Defendant for settlement,” Counsel said “My learned friend (Counsel for Lilwin) is here and I have called her several time just so to get something to work with,” but to no avail.
Eyesore proposal
Counsel said, it was only on last Saturday that Counsel for the Defendant (Lilwin) called “to propose something….and what they proposed was an eyesore.”
Nii Applatu Plange, Counsel for the Plaintiff said, “in our view, it is not something that we will want to proceed further so we are back for the court to proceed with the case,” he said as negotiations for settlement break down.
Reasonable proposal
Counsel for the Defendant said, what Counsel for the Plaintiff told the Court were largely true but stressed that what her client (Lilwin) had proposed was “reasonable.”
She was however “surprised to hear (from Counsel of the Plaintiff that it) is an eyesore.”
In the circumstances, she said “we are in their (Plaintiff) hands and the court.”
To clarify matters to the Court, Counsel for the Plaintiff said, “at the last sitting we (Plaintiff and her Counsel) came down (from GHc5m to GHc2m) significantly and when my learned friend called she proposed Legal fee and GHc100k for Martha to forgo it.”
This Counsel for Plaintiff said was unacceptable and formed the basis of his description as an “eyesore.”
We can’t afford Martha’s pedigree
Counsel for Lilwin (Defendant) told the Court that, “We proposed that Martha should receive GHc100,000 and legal fee of GHc50,000 (totaling GHc150,000).”
She explained that, “We are approaching Easter and I know that the matter is not anything that we can quantify in terms of the injury caused to Plaintiff (Martha Ankomah).”
“We are doing this on the background that we are Christians. …We cannot pay Martha Ankomah for her pedigree,” Counsel for Lilwin said as she mitigate for the damages.
Counsel for Defendant intimated that “We are proposing a whooping 1.5 billion (in old currency),” which for them is reasonable.
But, Counsel for the Plaintiff also raised concerns about how the new apology that was to replace the rejected one was treated.
Justice Forson Baah Agyapong, the presiding judge who appeared to have had enough of the parties after his previously wise counsel for them to agree on settlement in his chambers said, “I won’t talk again I have advised both parties enough.”
GHc200k new proposal
When it appeared in open Court that the Plaintiff and her lawyers do not accept the initial GHc150k proposal earlier and want the case to proceed in Court, Lilwin (Defendant) through one of his managers whispered into counsel ears.
Counsel then informed the Court that, her client has whispered into her ears that he would round the figure up to GHc200k including legal fees.
That triggered a forth-and-back approaches in open Court resulting with the parties approaching the bench. They later agreed to have more discussions in chambers to resolve the matter but this time without the judge.
After nearly two-hours, the parties returned from Chambers to inform the judge that, they have agreed on terms of settlement.
After consulting their diaries, the parties informed Justice Baah Agyapong that they are back in Court on April 1, 2025 for the terms of the settlement to be adopted by the Court as consent judgment.
EIB Network Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah who was Court reports it is not immediately clear the final sum in general damages was agreed on but the settlement will include a new retraction and proper public apology.
Background
On February 14, 2024, Actress Martha Ankomah initiated a defamation action against popular Kumawood actor, Kwadwo Nkansah over an alleged disparaging comments about her.
Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, was heard in a viral video, allegedly insulting the actress for comments she is alleged to have made.
But, an incensed Lil Win in the video was heard downplaying Martha’s prominence in the film industry.
In a suit filed at the High Court in Accra on February 14, Martha Ankomah is demanding damages among others in the sum of GH¢5 million.
Ankomah, the Plaintiff in the action is also seeking an apology and a retraction of the said defamatory words with the same prominence.
“Damages in the sum of GH¢5 million for the defamatory statements made by Defendant. Compensatory damages for the damage done to the reputation of Plaintiff.
“Aggravated damages for the reckless and malicious publication of the defamatory words. An order directing the Defendant to publish an apology and a retraction of the said defamatory words with the same prominence,” the Plaintiff seeks from the Court.
Lil Win and his lawyers have since entered appearance while the parties are considering an out court settlement.
