The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Antertey Abbey, has filed a GH¢20 million defamation lawsuit against Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye.
The suit was lodged at the Accra High Court on August 26, 2025, marking a major legal battle between the two public figures.
According to the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim, Abronye—who doubles as the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and operates OHIA TV, an online television station—made a series of false and damaging statements about Dr. Abbey during a broadcast on August 23, 2025.
The Allegations
The court documents reveal that Abronye allegedly described Dr. Abbey as:
- A “proud and arrogant person” who brings his own chair in a separate Land Cruiser during cocoa farm visits, with fuel allegedly funded by poor cocoa farmers.
- A “thief” who appointed a new Director of Finance with the alleged intention of embezzling money from COCOBOD.
Dr. Abbey strongly rejects these claims, insisting they are baseless, malicious, and have severely tarnished his reputation.
Dr. Abbey’s Response
In his Statement of Claim, Dr. Abbey emphasizes his 20-year professional career and leadership roles across media, sports, and business. He currently serves as:
- Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
- President of Hearts of Lions FC
- Acting CEO of COCOBOD
He argues that the defamatory remarks falsely portray him as “an embezzler, dishonest, fraudulent, and a thief,” contrary to his track record of integrity and public service.
Reliefs Sought
Dr. Abbey, through his lawyers, is seeking:
- GH¢20 million in general and punitive damages
- An unconditional retraction and public apology to be published across all of Abronye’s platforms, including social media, for one month
- A perpetual injunction restraining Abronye from publishing further defamatory content
The High Court of Justice in Accra has commanded Abronye to enter an appearance within eight days of being served.
This case is expected to draw significant public attention, given Dr. Abbey’s influential role in Ghana’s cocoa sector and the defendant’s prominence in politics and media.
See writ below:
