Accra, Oct 13, PFM -- Hon. Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, has pitched battle against the National Democrat Newspaper for allegedly libeling him.

The Hon. MP is seeking an order from the courts compelling the editor of D.D.D. Publications, publishers of the Ghanaians Democrat to recant or retract the paper?s allegation, that he, Kennedy Agyapong, is a drug baron. The MP is also claiming general damages for defamation of his character by publishing of the plaintiff as someone who has a mental problem as carried in the National Democrat publication issue Number 123 on Thursday, September 30, to October 3, 2004 edition with the headline: Kennedy Has A Mental Problem?Psychiatric says About NPP?s Drug Baron?.

In a statement of claim filed before an Accra High Court by Nana Obiri Boahen of Enso Nyame Chambers, Sunyani on October 8, 2004, the solicitors averred that the publication is only calculated to impugn the plaintiff?s integrity and hard won reputation.

The solicitors described the publication as not only false but also baseless, and uncalled for; and that the publication was intended to malign the Plaintiff as a drug-addict, drug baron, etc adding that the ?Publication in its natural and ordinary meanings, are intended to expose the plaintiff to public ridicule and contempt in the eyes of right thinking men/women within the community that he lives.

They also prayed the court to compel the defendants to retract the defamatory statement by publishing in one of the national newspapers, for three consecutive weeks, the said retractory statement. This is because the publication had tarnished the image of their client. The solicitors contended that people look up to their client as someone who has been suffering from mental problems thus rendering him ineligible and unqualified to hold any public office. The solicitors contended that by the publication, people now look at Hon. Ken. Agyapong, as someone who deals in drugs and thus unqualified to be a Member of Parliament.