The High Court in Accra has dismissed a defamation suit filed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, against the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffour, popularly known as Abronye DC.
The ruling, which has since gone viral, indicates that the court dismissed Dr Abbey’s suit on the grounds that it was procedurally defective.
The presiding judge, Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, explained that the defect arose from Dr Abbey’s use of COCOBOD’s Legal Department to prosecute a personal defamation claim.
“Although the said publication was made against the Plaintiff with respect to his current position as the CEO of COCOBOD, COCOBOD is not a named party in this instant suit as to warrant the Legal Department to issue the writ, with the Legal Director of COCOBOD acting as counsel for the Plaintiff.
“The Plaintiff, having sued in his personal capacity, ought to procure the services of a private legal practitioner to represent him. I therefore find the writ of summons and statement of claim to be procedurally defective, and same is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs,” the ruling stated.
Randy Abbey sues NPP’s Abronye for defamation, demands GH¢20 million
About the case
Dr Abbey filed the suit on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, seeking GH¢20 million in damages for what he described as malicious and false claims made by Abronye during a public broadcast.
Court documents indicate that Abronye accused Dr Abbey of misusing public resources and engaging in corrupt practices at COCOBOD. Specifically, he alleged that Dr Abbey transported a personal chair from Accra to cocoa farms using multiple state-owned Land Cruisers, rather than using chairs provided by farmers.
Abronye further accused Dr Abbey of manipulating internal appointments to facilitate the embezzlement of public funds.
These statements, which were broadcast publicly and widely circulated on social media, were said to have caused significant damage to Dr Abbey’s reputation, exposing him to public ridicule and contempt.
In the suit, which was filed through COCOBOD’s Legal Department, Dr Abbey sought a court declaration that Abronye’s comments were defamatory. He also demanded a full retraction and an unqualified apology to be published across all platforms on which the allegations were made, as well as the removal of all defamatory content from the internet.
The lawsuit further sought general, punitive, and compensatory damages totalling GH¢20 million, a perpetual injunction restraining Abronye from making further defamatory statements, coverage of legal costs, and any other relief the court might deem appropriate.
Dr Abbey’s legal team maintained that the accusations were entirely baseless and aimed at undermining his professional reputation, built over years of service. They emphasised the need for truthful and responsible public discourse, particularly when it concerns individuals in positions of public trust.
I have seen the very correct decision by Justice Halima Abdul Baasit, dismissing the defamation suit filed by Randy Abbey, because he used the legal department of COCOBOD to file the suit.
I applaud the decision. Further, I think it is proper that Randy Abbey, be personally… pic.twitter.com/U5EOuEHxEb
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) January 22, 2026
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