Accra, June 17, GNA - Mr Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, has dragged the "National Democrat", a private bi-weekly newspaper, and its publishers to an Accra High Court for publishing defamatory statements about him. He is seeking further orders and cost against the "National Democrat" and its publishers D.D.D. Publications.

Mr Agyapong is seeking the order of the Court to compel the defendants to retract those defamatory statements by publishing the retraction in one of the national newspaper for three consecutive weeks. In his statement of claim filed by Nana Obiri Boahen, a Sunyani-based Lawyer, Mr Agyapong said he had carved a niche for himself, his party and profession. He said the Defendants in its issue number 123 of Thursday 30 September -October 3, 2004, published the following: "Kennedy Agyapong - Has a Mental Problem, Psychiatric says about New Patriotic Party's drug baron."

According to the Mr Agyapong the publication was false and was only calculated to impugn his integrity and hard earned reputation. He said the publication had tarnished his image and people looked at him as someone, who had been suffering from mental problems thereby rendering him ineligible and unqualified to hold any position. The Member of Parliament said by that publication people now saw him as someone who dealt in drugs and thus disqualified from being an MP.

He noted that defendants for some time now had developed the knack or penchant of writing and making derogatory remarks about him and nothing would halt them except the court action.