Atta Poku is a sports journalist
Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku has sued journalist Atta Poku and Sompa TV/FM for GH₵30 million over alleged defamatory claims, including fund misappropriation and mistreatment of Daniel Amartey.
According to ghanasoccernet, the lawsuit alleges that Poku, who has a significant following, along with the media organization, made defamatory and libelous remarks about him during their sports broadcasts on November 18 and November 28, 2024.
In a statement of claim submitted to the High Court, Okraku asserts that the defendants deliberately spread false allegations with the intent to tarnish his reputation and subject him to public ridicule.
The accusations include claims of misappropriating funds meant for Black Stars players, mistreating defender Daniel Amartey, and purchasing buses for Division One League clubs.
Okraku’s legal team alleges that during a broadcast on November 18, 2024, Collins Atta Poku alleged that Okraku dishonestly deducted $200 from the $3,000 allocated to each Black Stars player by former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ahead of their departure for the last AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
The suit also references statements made by Poku, claiming that this deduction led to a dispute between Okraku and Amartey, which ultimately resulted in the defender being dropped from the national team despite his inactivity.
The GFA president’s lawyers are firing back at the claims made against him, calling them outright lies designed to destroy his reputation. They argue that these statements paint Okraku as corrupt, vindictive, and unfit to lead the Ghana Football Association.
According to the statement of claim, as cited by ghanasoccernet, Okraku’s reputation has taken a serious hit, both personally and professionally and as such has suffered irreparable harm and wants the court to step in.
Okraku is seeking GH₵30 million in damages, a public apology, and a court order to stop the defendants from spreading more false information. The proposed apology would need to be aired on the same platforms as the original claims, for three consecutive days, with equal prominence.
Okraku’s team is also pushing for a perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory statements.
FKA/AE