U.S.-based Ghanaian political commentator Kevin Ekow Taylor has found himself in legal hot water after being sued for 20 million Ghanaian Cedis (Ghc) by Dr. Williams Anarfi Sarpong, a medical herbal officer operating the Spintex Hospital, a herbal medical center located in Tema. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court on March 26, alleges that Taylor defamed Sarpong through a series of incendiary comments made on his media platform, Loud Silence Media.
During recent episodes of his show, Taylor claimed that Dr. Sarpong, who presents himself as a qualified medical professional, does not hold a legitimate medical license. He went so far as to label Sarpong a fraud, suggesting that the doctor had constructed a façade of credibility through fake qualifications and by purchasing awards to enhance his reputation. This aggressive commentary was underscored by Taylor's challenge to Sarpong to provide proof of his medical credentials, positioning the allegations as not merely personal attacks but as serious accusations against Sarpong's professional integrity.
In addition to questioning Sarpong's qualifications, Taylor also accused him of being involved in dubious business dealings and attempting to leverage connections to former President John Dramani Mahama for personal gain. Taylor called for law enforcement to investigate and arrest Sarpong, further escalating the animosity between the two.
In response, Dr. Sarpong has not only pursued legal action but has also requested exemplary damages of Ghc 20 million, alongside unspecified amounts for general and special damages, and costs associated with legal fees. This legal battle echoes a recent precedent in which investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas won an $18 million judgment in the U.S. against former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, who made similar defamatory comments. As this case progresses, it raises important questions about the limits of free speech and the responsibilities that come with public commentary.
Dr Sarpong is not a licensed medical doctor. He said he is a fraud who has propped himself up with fake qualifications and by buying awards to make himself look impressive. Taylor dared him to show.
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