The President of the Ghana Bar Association in the Upper East Region, Anthony Namoo, has advocated greater reliance on civil remedies in defamation disputes, arguing that freedom of expression must be balanced with accountability under the law.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s DayBreak Upper East show, he maintained that individuals who feel defamed should seek redress through the courts rather than resort to criminal processes.
“If someone has damaged your reputation, the proper avenue is to go to court and seek damages,” he explained.
Mr Namoo noted that Ghana abolished criminal libel laws in 2001 and emphasized that civil defamation actions provide adequate remedies for reputational harm.
He, however, acknowledged concerns surrounding the continued application of provisions relating to “causing fear and panic,” stressing the need for clearer legal interpretation to prevent abuse.
“The parameters under which someone can be charged must be clearly defined; otherwise the provision can become too broad,” he cautioned.
He further argued that public officials should be subject to the same legal standards as ordinary citizens when seeking redress for alleged defamatory statements.
“Equality before the law means that public officials should also use the courts if they believe their reputation has been injured,” he said.
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