The High Court in Accra has confirmed that proposals for an out-of-court settlement in a GH¢5 million defamation lawsuit against Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, known as Lilwin, have not succeeded.
The plaintiff, actress Martha Ankomah, has directed her legal team to proceed with the case after earlier indications of a potential settlement led to an adjournment in July.
During a session of the court on Tuesday, Justice Forson Agyapong Baah was informed by Ankomah’s lawyers, led by Nii Apatu Plange, that Lilwin was not prepared to settle the dispute.
“We made our proposals to the intermediary, but he later informed us that it did not seem the defendant was ready for settlement, so I will say that settlement could not be achieved,” Plange reported to the court.
In light of this information, he urged the court to move forward with the case: “We pray the matter proceeds.”
Justice Baah, after considering the plaintiff’s counsel, adjourned the case until November 5, 2024, for further hearings. “In the circumstances, the case is adjourned to 5th November 2024, for hearing to begin at 8:30 a.m. Let hearing notices, along with today’s notes, be issued and served on the defendant,” the court instructed.
Lilwin was again absent from the proceedings and did not have legal representation. Conversely, Martha Ankomah was present in court.
The defamation allegations stem from a viral video in which Lilwin publicly insulted Ankomah, suggesting that she downplayed her significance in the film industry. In a writ of summons filed on February 14, 2024, Ankomah asserts that Lilwin’s remarks have significantly damaged her reputation and that of her brand, GTP.
Ankomah’s suit claims that Lilwin falsely accused her of expressing disdain for Kumawood actors by allegedly refusing to collaborate with them due to their perceived lack of quality storylines. The actress contends that these statements are defamatory.
She is seeking:
a) Damages amounting to GH¢5 million for the defamatory statements made by the defendant.
b) Compensatory damages for the harm inflicted on her reputation.
c) Aggravated damages due to the reckless and malicious nature of the defamatory publication.
d) An order for the defendant to issue a public apology and retraction of the defamatory statements with equal prominence.
e) An injunction to prevent the defendant from making further defamatory remarks.
f) Coverage of legal costs.
