Defamation Battle Targets Activist, Journalist, and FM Station
By Prince Ahenkorah
Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene has launched a high-stakes defamation lawsuit against Democracy Hub activist Wendell Yeboah, journalist Agyaba Owusu (known on air as Agyaba Kwaku), and Aluta 92.1 FM’s management, accusing them of falsely branding him an illegal miner known locally as a “galamseyer” in a move that has thrust the case into Ghana’s simmering debates on media freedom and environmental accountability.
The suit, lodged at the High Court in Accra, stems from a November 18, 2025, broadcast on Aluta FM’s flagship Twi-language morning show, “Anopa Koko,” aired from Madina studios and live-streamed on Facebook. During the segment, Yeboah a key mobilizer for the anti-corruption watchdog group declared on air: “As I speak with you right now, the Ashanti Regional Minister is into galamsey.”
Amoakohene, a medical doctor and laboratory scientist elevated as the youngest-ever holder of the post, contends the allegation was baseless, malicious, and unchecked, aired to a wide audience without verification. Compounding the damage, the station amplified it online: a flyer posted to Aluta FM’s Facebook page screamed, “Ashanti Regional Minister Is Deeply Involved in Illegal Mining (Galamsey) – Wendell Yeboah, Head of Mobilization, Democracy Hub.”
By the filing date, the post had racked up scores of reactions, comments, and shares, remaining live and viral.
In his writ, Amoakohene a rising star with a substantial online following argues the slur has shredded his hard-earned reputation for integrity and professionalism, exposing him to public ridicule amid Ghana’s crackdown on galamsey, which has ravaged rivers and forests. He pins distinct blame: Yeboah for the original claim, host Agyaba Kwaku for broadcasting it, and station bosses for republishing and promoting it.
Seeking redress, the minister demands a court declaration of defamation, a full retraction and apology via the same platforms, deletion of all related content from Aluta FM’s digital archives, GHS 10 million in exemplary damages to deter “reckless malice,” a permanent gag order on the allegation, and legal costs.
The case, already stirring buzz for its intersection of free speech, activism, and the galamsey plague, underscores tensions in Ghana’s media landscape, where outlets like Aluta FM known for hard-hitting commentary navigate accusations of bias against public figures.
Court sources indicate a hearing date could be set within weeks, potentially escalating scrutiny on press ethics and official reputations in the Mahama era.
As illegal mining furores rage on, Amoakohene’s suit could set precedents on where journalism ends and libel begins, testing the boundaries of public discourse in a nation grappling with environmental and governance woes.