The Accra High Court has dismissed a defamation suit by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD, Randy Abbey, against the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye.
In its ruling delivered on Monday, January 19, 2026 the court presided over by Justice Halimah El- Alawa Abdul Baasit, described the writ as “procedurally defective” because it was issued by the Legal Department of COCOBOD with the Director of Legal of COCOBOD as lawyer for the plaintiff [Randy Abbey].
According to the court, defamation was “impersonam” (directed at a specific person) and since COCOBOD was not a party to the lawsuit, the writ should not have emanated from its Legal Department.
“The Plaintiff having sued in his personal capacity, ought to procure the service of a private legal practitioner to represent him. I therefore find the instant Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim as procedurally defective and the same is dismissed,” the court held.
However, after the ruling, Randy Abbey refiled the suit, but this time around, the writ was issued by a private legal practitioner.
Background
In August 2025, Randy Abbey dragged Abronye to court, seeking GH¢20million in damages for defamation.
Mr Abbey accused Abronye of tarnishing his reputation after making comments on radio to the effect that he visits cocoa farms and meets with cocoa farmers with his own chair driven from Accra.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
