A high-profile defamation case currently before the Accra High Court has placed journalist Kofi Duah, a reporter with the Daily Graphic, at the center of a legal storm involving traditional health practitioner Dr. Sophia Asi Ocansey, CEO of S.O. Herbal Centre.
The lawsuit, which seeks GH¢30 million (approximately $2 million) in damages, accuses Duah and six other defendants—including editors and major media houses—of publishing and amplifying false statements that allegedly defamed Dr. Ocansey and damaged her professional reputation. As a journalist who cannot afford such a huge amount in settlements, there are fears that Duah could spend some time in prison if found guilty.
Filed under Suit No. GW-0227-10, the case underscores the delicate balance between press freedom and reputational rights in Ghana’s media environment.
KOFI DUAH’S ROLE IN THE CONTROVERSY
According to court filings, the controversy traces back to a July 22, 2021 Facebook post made by Janet Adjoa Sarfo, the ex-wife of UK-based Ghanaian broadcaster Nana Yaw Sarfo. In the post, Sarfo alleged that Dr. Ocansey had seduced her husband and influenced the breakdown of their marriage.
Three days later, on July 25, 2021, the Daily Graphic—under the byline of Kofi Duah—published an article repeating portions of the Facebook post. The story, which appeared both in print and online on graphic.com.gh, was published with the approval of the paper’s editor and the backing of its parent company, Graphic Communications Group Ltd.
Dr. Ocansey contends that the publication lent credibility and national reach to an otherwise unverified social media post, spreading defamatory claims to millions of readers. The article, she says, portrayed her as a “treacherous predator” who interferes in other people’s marriages—an allegation she strongly denies.
Her legal team argues that Duah’s report not only repeated the Facebook allegations but also “substantially republished” them in a way that amplified their damage, given Daily Graphic’s reputation as Ghana’s most authoritative newspaper.
“UNTOLD EMBARRASSMENT AND DAMAGE”
Dr. Ocansey, a respected herbal medicine expert with clients across Africa, Europe, and the United States, claims the publications caused “untold embarrassment, ridicule, and reputational injury.”
In her statement of claim, she lists multiple awards and recognitions—including Global Icon in Herbal Medicine (2019)and Best Female Health Practitioner (2020)—as evidence of her integrity and contributions to Ghana’s health sector.
Her lawyers insist that Kofi Duah and his editors acted recklessly by publishing an “unverified and sensational” story based on personal disputes, without affording her a fair right of response.
RELIEF SOUGHT
Dr. Ocansey is demanding:
- Declarations that the publications are defamatory;
- GH¢30 million in damages for libel;
- A perpetual injunction preventing further republication; and
- Unqualified retractions and apologies from Kofi Duah, Daily Graphic, and all other defendants to be published both online and in three consecutive print editions of the newspaper.
The writ, issued by lawyer Sammy Kwame Domeh of Kulendi@Law, warns that the defendants must respond within three days of service or risk default proceedings.
BROADER MEDIA IMPLICATIONS
The case has sparked debate within Ghana’s journalism community about the professional boundaries between reporting and amplification of defamatory content originating from social media.
While Ghana’s Constitution guarantees press freedom, legal experts note that the country’s defamation laws remain strict, often placing the burden on journalists to verify the truth of statements published—even if they originated elsewhere.
A TEST CASE FOR PRESS RESPONSIBILITY
For Kofi Duah, once regarded as one of the Daily Graphic’s rising entertainment correspondents, this case may become a defining moment. The outcome could influence how Ghanaian journalists approach stories derived from online allegations, particularly those involving personal or moral accusations.
Dr. Ocansey’s legal team maintains that the suit is “not an attack on journalism” but rather a fight against “false and malicious reporting” that weaponizes media credibility to destroy lives.
As Ghana’s courts continue to adjudicate an increasing number of defamation cases involving high-profile figures, the Duah–Ocansey case may well set a new precedent for accountability in an era where social media content often bleeds into mainstream reporting.
This article is based on official court documents from Suit No. GW-0227-10 and verified media records. The case remains under judicial consideration.