Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has sued the Africawatch magazine and its editor, Steve Mallory for defamation.

The Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom obtained leave from the high court presided over by justice Samuel Asiedu to issue and serve notice of a writ of summon out of the jurisdiction on Africawatch magazine.

The publication by Africawatch magazine titled: ‘The Inside Story of the Oslo Scandal: Conspiracy to Steal’ indited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in the controversial Oslo deal.

The publication accused the Akufo-Addo-led government of malfeasance in the purchase of a property in Oslo, Norway for use as Ghana’s embassy.

Reports suggest that the government had inflated the price of the property.

The Minority in Parliament alleged that the property was purchased at a cost of $12.1 million instead of $3.5 million.
On Monday, 8 July 2019, the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu give the go-ahead to Ms Botchwey’s lawyers to serve the defendants the writ.

Ms Botchwey, who is out of the country, was represented by her lawyer, Mr Garry Nimako.

The court authorised the plaintiff to serve the defendants, who are resident in the US, by email.

The court further directed that the defendants should make an appearance and file their defence in 14 days after the e-mail correspondence.