The Accra High Court has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a former Gender Minister, against her ex-husband Tony Lithur.
Following a lawsuit filed on April 25, 2024, Nana Oye sought redress for alleged defamatory statements made against her in a divorce petition, which she claims have maliciously harmed her image and professional standing.
“The divorce petition, which was variously reported by the media, alleged that the plaintiff was a lazy, irresponsible, adulterous, cruel and violent mother, as well as engaged in acts contrary to her professional ethics as a human rights lawyer. These claims, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo says have hurt her image with malice,” part of the process states.
The couple entered into a customary marriage on April 14, 1991, which was later formalized under ordinance on January 1998 and again on May 2, 2018.
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Mr Lithur (defendant) then filed a petition for divorce against Nana Oye (plaintiff), which was partly heard and yet to be concluded.
Nana Oye alleges that the defendant made false statements in the divorce petition and intentionally published defamatory words.
Consequently, she is claiming $500,000 in general damages and $1 million in exemplary damages.
In his ruling, Justice Rev. Joseph Owusu-Adu Agyemang said, no action of defamation can be found in the allegations made against the legal practitioner.
The Court further stated that it would be unwise for any court to permit parties to delve into such sensitive matters in a divorce suit and that the petition for divorce and its response are official court documents.
Following the ruling, the court ordered Nana Oye Bampoe Addo to pay a cost of GH¢5,000, which is less than the GH¢20,000 requested by Tony Lithur’s legal team.
Nevertheless, Nana Oye Lithur proposed paying a reduced amount of GH¢1,000.
BACKGROUND STORY
A renowned human rights lawyer in Ghana, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo has taken legal action against her ex-partner Tony Lithur, citing a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation both locally and globally.
According to a lawsuit filed on April 25, 2024, Nana Oye is seeking redress for alleged defamatory statements made against her in a divorce petition, which she claims has maliciously harmed her image and professional standing.
“The divorce petition, which was variously reported by the media, alleged that the plaintiff was a lazy, irresponsible, adulterous, cruel and violent mother, as well as engaged in acts contrary to her professional ethics as a human rights lawyer. These claims, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo says have hurt her image with malice,” part of the process states.
On May 2, 2018, Tony Lithur Esq. filed a divorce petition against Nana Oye Lithur (then) on allegations that are at the heart of the dispute, which sought to dissolve their 27-year marriage. Nana Oye argues that the contents of the petition have severely damaged her reputation and public standing, leading to widespread ridicule and scorn.
“Due to false claims and publications regarding the Defendant’s acquisition of real estate investments in South Africa, the Office of the Special Prosecutor initiated investigations into corruption and related offences of corruption, money laundering and the illegal acquisition of property in South Africa against the Plaintiff and the Complainant of was investigated and later admitted on bail.” the process stated.
In 2018, Tony Lithur, a prominent Ghanaian lawyer, filed for divorce from his wife, Nana Oye Lithur, a former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. The divorce filing came after many years of marriage, and Mr. Lithur cited marital misconduct as the reason for seeking a divorce.
Mr. Lithur had previously represented former President John Mahama during the 2012 election petition hearing at the Apex Court of Ghana. In his divorce filing, he outlined unavoidable marital issues committed by Nana Oye Lithur, which formed the basis of his divorce petition.
In addition to damages, Nana Oye is seeking a perpetual injunction to stop Tony Lithur from making further defamatory statements about her. She is also demanding a public retraction and apology, to be published on social media and in news outlets, to correct the harm caused by the original statements.
“The plaintiff claimed that before the marriage went downhill, the defendant told her that she would destroy her reputation and make sure that by the time she was done with, she would have no reputation to hang on to,” the lawsuit states as reported by the Chronicle newspaper.
WHAT HAPPENED IN MAY?
In 2018, Tony Lithur, a prominent Ghanaian lawyer, filed for divorce from his wife, Nana Oye Lithur, a former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. The divorce filing came after many years of marriage, and Mr. Lithur cited marital misconduct as the reason for seeking a divorce.
Mr. Lithur had previously represented former President John Mahama during the 2012 election petition hearing at the Apex Court of Ghana. In his divorce filing, he outlined unavoidable marital issues committed by Nana Oye Lithur, which formed the basis of his divorce petition.
The court paper served on Nana Oye Lithur reads:
“TAKE NOTICE: That you are required within 8 days after service hereof upon you, inclusive of the day service to enter on appearance either in person or by a solicitor at the Divorce Registry of the High Court, Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana should you think fit to do so and thereafter to answer this petition and that in default of your so doing, the Court will proceed to hear the petition and pronounce judgement your absence notwithstanding,” the notice stated.
Nana Oye Lithur is a Ghanaian barrister and politician. She is the Principal of the NGO, Centre for Human Rights Advocacy.
