Former Energy Minister and 2024 NPP running mate, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has filed a GHS20 million defamation lawsuit against broadcaster Salifu Maase and media company TV XYZ over allegations that he masterminded electricity outages in parts of the Ashanti Region for political purposes.
The suit, filed at the General Jurisdiction Division of the High Court in Accra through Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, names broadcaster Salifu Maase, popularly known as Mugabe Maase, and XYZ Broadcasting Limited as defendants, accusing them of airing “false and malicious” statements during the May 4, 2026 edition of the “Inside Politics” programme on TV XYZ and Power 97.9 FM.
According to the statement of claim, an anonymous caller on the programme alleged that NAPO and some NPP figures met ECG district engineers in the Ashanti Region and paid them money to deliberately switch off electricity in selected areas.
The caller allegedly claimed:
“They gave everyone 1.5 billion… and told the Offinso engineer that this Sunday, they should switch off the lights at Asuofua.”
The broadcast further alleged that the outages were part of a broader underground political operation linked to worsening “dumsor” expected between June and July.
Lawyers for Dr. Opoku Prempeh argue that the allegations portrayed him as “a saboteur of the national interest,” “unpatriotic,” “corrupt,” and “not a law-abiding citizen.”
The plaintiff contends that the comments were aired at a time when the country was experiencing renewed public frustration over intermittent power outages, making the allegations particularly damaging.
“The aforesaid statements are entirely false and were maliciously published by the Defendants without any verification whatsoever,” the suit stated.
The former Manhyia South MP further accused Mugabe Maase, who hosted the programme, of failing to “verify, disclaim, or disassociate himself” from the allegations and instead endorsing them publicly.
The suit also claims the statements gained wide circulation on social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, thereby causing severe reputational damage to the former Education and Energy Minister.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh is seeking:
- A declaration that the statements were defamatory;
- A court order compelling the defendants to publish an unqualified apology and retraction within seven days of judgment;
- A perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making further defamatory publications against him;
- GHS20 million in damages jointly and severally against the defendants;
- Legal costs and any other relief the court deems fit.
In the writ, the plaintiff described himself as a highly accomplished public servant and medical doctor who served as Education Minister from 2017 to 2021 and Energy Minister from 2021 to 2024.
The suit also highlighted his academic and professional credentials, including his association with Harvard University and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, arguing that the allegations have damaged a reputation built through years of public service.
The defendants have eight days after service of the writ to enter appearance or risk judgment being entered against them in default.
