Former Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, has dragged broadcaster Salifu Maase, also known as Mugabe Maase, and XYZ Broadcasting Limited to the High Court over allegedly defamatory broadcasts linking him to the deliberate sabotage of electricity supply in the Ashanti Region.
In a writ of summons filed at the General Jurisdiction Division of the High Court in Accra, Dr. Opoku Prempeh is seeking a declaration that statements made on the 1st defendant’s programme “Inside Politics” on TV XYZ and Power 97.9 FM on May 4, 2026, were defamatory of his character.
The plaintiff is also demanding an unqualified retraction and apology to be published with the same prominence as the original broadcast, perpetual injunctions restraining the defendants from further defamatory publications, and damages of GH¢20 million jointly and severally against Salifu Maase and XYZ Broadcasting Limited.
According to the statement of claim, Mugabe Maase, host of the weekday afternoon show “Inside Politics” broadcast predominantly in the Twi language, played an audio recording from an anonymous caller who accused Dr. Opoku Prempeh and other NPP figures of meeting with several District Engineers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region and paying them GH¢1.5 billion (old cedis) to switch off power supply in parts of the region for partisan political reasons.
The anonymous speaker allegedly claimed the meeting took place at Abuakwa Agogo near a hospital, and that instructions were given to engineers from districts including Tepa, Asante Mampong, Ofinso, Asokwa, Ejisu, Effiduase, Asante Bekwai, Manso, and Obuasi.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh described the allegations as entirely false and malicious. He stated that they were published without any verification by the defendants despite the grave nature of the claims involving corruption, sabotage, and subversion of national interest. The plaintiff further avers that the statements were made at a time when the country was experiencing severe “dumsor,” causing widespread public hardship and outrage, and were intended to court public anger and disaffection towards him.
The plaintiff contends that the statements meant and were understood to mean that he is a saboteur of the national interest who only thinks about partisan advantage over the national interest. He is also portrayed as unpatriotic and thus does not have the interest of the nation at heart. Additionally, the broadcast suggested that he lacks the integrity and character expected of a person in his position, that he is a corrupt individual, and that he is not a law-abiding citizen of Ghana.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who served as Minister for Education from 2017 to 2021 and Minister for Energy from 2021 to 2024, detailed his long record of public service in the statement of claim. He was also the New Patriotic Party’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election and previously served as Member of Parliament for Manhyia South.
The plaintiff noted his professional background as a medical doctor, membership of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and studies at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He argued that the broadcast has damaged his hard-earned reputation.
The writ, issued by lawyers Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, described the defendants’ actions as calculated and malicious. It stated that Mugabe Maase, as host and moderator, failed to verify, disclaim, or disassociate himself from the audio but instead allegedly endorsed it.
