The Accra High Court has slapped a GHC 2.95m on controversial US-based journalist and social commentator Kevin Ekow Taylor. The amount is awarded to embattled legal practitioner Ace Ankomah in a defamation suit.
With Ekow Tailor allegedly having a US citizenship, the lack of the Ghanaian court’s jurisdiction in the US and the strict Free Press Clause in the First Amendments of the US constitution, it is unclear how Mr. Ankomah will claim his damages from unfazed Ekow Taylor.
Kevin Taylor who is based permanently in the United States did not appear in court, allowing Ace Ankomah to secure the judgment in absentia.
According to sources at the High Court explained that although Mr. Taylor was outside the Ghanaian jurisdiction, the court had the authority to hear the case, claiming the materials of defamation was targeted at a Ghanaian audience and viewership.
Mid-last year, Kevin Taylor, through his productions company, ‘Loud Silence Media’, has alleged Ace Ankomah’s complicity in the devastating investment scandal involving gold collectibles company Menzgold Ghana.
Kevin Ekow Taylor revealed sizzling details of how renowned lawyer Ace Ankomah, the former Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), K.K Amoah and several key personalities in the Akufo Addo administration schemed to dupe NAM 1 of a whopping US$ 50 million- an amount meant to repay stranded Menzgold customers.
EOCO is reported to have clandestinely introduced the companies that conspired to dupe NAM 1 to the tune of US$ 40 million.
Kevin Taylor claims he had evidence to back his claims and proceeded to ask Ace Ankomah specific questions which the latter never responded to.
Mr. Ankoma’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory said the “malicious” publications by Mr Taylor “has injured his hard-won reputation into hatred, ridicule, obloquy, discredit, contempt, vilification, reproach” which has caused Mr. Anan Ankomah “great distress and emotional trauma.”
Shortly after the expose of Mr. Taylor, Ace Ankomah was forced to flee his platform on Facebook, given the avalanche of insults hurled at him for his alleged double standards in the Menzgold saga.