Accra, June 2, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye and his sister, Madam Yemoteley Quaye, who is the Chairperson of Makola Market Traders Union, have filed a motion in the Accra High Court against the Editor of Gye Nyame Concord and five others for defamation of character.

The plaintiffs are claiming punitive and compensation of general damages of 500 million cedis.

Their motion is against the defendants for publishing, distributing for sale and broadcast by radio malicious and defamatory material and false accusations.

The defendants are Mr Alfred Ogbamey, Managing Editor of the newspaper, Mr Michael Antwi Agyei, a reporter, Casilpe Communications Limited, publishers of the newspaper and Gye Nyame Concord. The rest are Madam Margaret Akrong, Chairperson of Makola Market Traders Association and Hajia Fati Komeh, Executive Member of the Makola Number two Traders Association.

The plaintiffs contended that the defendants by the publication of the said "damaging, false and concocted stories", so as to sell the newspaper, they had brought the plaintiffs into public ridicule. They said they have also been lowered in the high estimation and respect, which the general public held them.

Plaintiffs further contended that the defendants "actuated by malice" jointly and severally not only conspired, but also contrived and convoluted every piece of the publication to prove to the whole world that the Minister allegedly supported his sister.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs averred that members of the Makola Market Traders Association resorted to use the press to disgrace and ridicule the Minister.

The plaintiffs said after the 2000 general elections, which led to a change of government, Madam Yemoteley Quaye formed the Makola Market Traders Union, because they did not want to join the existing Makola Market Traders Association.

The plaintiff said the defendants were NDC members and that their association had dominated the operations of the Makola women traders. Counsel for the plaintiff is Mr Ray Kakraba-Quarshie.