Court Clears Sammy Gyamfi in NAPO Defamation Appeal
Appeal Court overturns GH¢500,000 judgment, rules trial court erred in finding comments defamatory
By Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku | GhanaianNewsCanada | Accra, Ghana | July 16,2026
In a significant legal victory for National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi, the Court of Appeal has overturned the High Court’s GH¢500,000 defamation judgment previously awarded in favour of former Energy Minister and current Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO).
The appellate court ruled that the trial judge erred in law by concluding that the statements made by Mr. Gyamfi were defamatory, effectively setting aside the damages awarded by the High Court.
The decision marks the latest chapter in a legal dispute that began in 2019, when Dr. Opoku Prempeh filed a defamation suit after Sammy Gyamfi made comments during a press conference concerning the kidnapping of two Canadian women in Kumasi. At the time, Mr. Gyamfi alleged that an individual linked to the kidnapping had connections to the then Education Minister, claims Dr. Opoku Prempeh described as false and damaging to his reputation.
In October 2022, the Accra High Court ruled in favour of Dr. Opoku Prempeh, awarding GH¢500,000 in damages, ordering Mr. Gyamfi to issue a public apology and retraction, and imposing legal costs against him. Mr. Gyamfi immediately challenged the judgment, insisting that the ruling was contrary to the evidence presented during the trial and filing an appeal.
The Court of Appeal has now agreed with the appellant, concluding that the trial court made an error in determining that the disputed remarks were defamatory. By overturning the earlier decision, the appellate court has relieved Mr. Gyamfi of the financial liability imposed by the High Court.
The judgment is expected to attract significant public and legal attention, particularly because it revisits the legal standards governing defamation, freedom of political expression and reputation in Ghana’s democratic landscape.
Legal analysts say the ruling reinforces the Court of Appeal’s role in reviewing lower court decisions and clarifying how Ghana’s defamation laws should be interpreted, especially in politically charged disputes.
The case has remained one of Ghana’s most closely watched political defamation battles, involving two prominent political figures from the country’s major political parties.
The full written judgment is expected to provide further insight into the appellate court’s legal reasoning and could influence how future defamation cases involving political speech are determined.
