Listowell Nana Kusi-Poku, at a High Court in Accra for defamation.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Dr Adam Bonaa, has sued social commentator and Executive Director of Good Governance Advocacy Group, Listowell Nana Kusi-Poku, at a High Court in Accra for defamation.

According to court documents sighted by GhanaWeb, Dr Bonaa avers that Listowell, during a panel discussion on CTV in February 2025, veered off from the topic of discussion—the National Service Scandal—and made comments that attacked and impugned his character and reputation.

Among other claims, the plaintiff accused the defendant of making false and malicious statements, which, in their ordinary meaning, were understood by right-thinking persons to mean that his doctorate degree obtained from the Swiss Business School was fake, that he was a fugitive from justice and wanted in the United Kingdom, that he misconducted himself during his time at Wa Secondary School, and that he has no expertise whatsoever in security matters.

Dr Bonaa further alleged that Listowell’s comments were interpreted by right-thinking persons to mean that he was engaged in illegally supplying firearms to unknown persons to fight in the Bawku conflict, that he is irresponsible and does not provide for his retired father, and that he is unfit to occupy the role of Acting Executive Secretary for NCSALWS.

The plaintiff notes that attempts through a personal phone call with the defendant and a letter from his lawyers to get the defendant to apologize and retract his claims failed.

“The Plaintiff avers that the Defendant’s refusal to retract and apologize to him puts the Defendant’s malice beyond dispute, the obvious intent of the defamatory comments being to excite hatred, create public dislike, and expose the Plaintiff to public ridicule, contempt, and indeed to injure his reputation as a consummate security professional, a hardworking, responsible father, and a law-abiding citizen,” portions of the court documents stated.

While denying the claims by the defendant, Dr Bonaa averred that he has been greatly injured, as the allegations have brought his reputation into public scandal, odium, and contempt.

Dr Bonaa has thus asked the High Court to grant against the defendant a declaration that the claims by the defendant are defamatory, an order for the payment of five million cedis as general damages for defaming him, an order directing the defendant to retract and apologize for the allegations within seven days, a perpetual injunction against the defendant, aggravated or exemplary damages, as well as an award of costs, among other reliefs.

GA/KA