Convener of the FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has vowed to challenge a High Court ruling that ordered him to pay GH¢5 million in general damages and GH¢100,000 in costs to former National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah in a defamation lawsuit.
The Accra High Court, presided over by Justice (Rev.) Joseph Owusu Adu-Agyeman, delivered the judgement on Monday, March 2, 2026, in favour of Kan Dapaah. The court reduced the former minister’s original claim for GH¢10 million in damages to GH¢5 million while awarding the full costs requested.
The case arose after Barker-Vormawor publicly alleged in September 2023 that he and other activists had been offered US$1 million, along with government appointments, to stop their anti-government protests and activism, including the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations.
He attributed the alleged bribe offer to officials linked to national security, specifically implicating Albert Kan Dapaah, who was then the National Security Minister.
Kan Dapaah strongly denied the allegation, describing it as false, baseless and damaging to his reputation. He subsequently filed a defamation suit against Barker-Vormawor at the Accra High Court, seeking damages, a retraction, a public apology and an injunction against further similar statements.
In his reaction shared via a Facebook post following the judgement, Barker-Vormawor outlined several procedural concerns he said affected the trial. He explained that after his original lawyer was appointed Deputy Attorney General, he successfully obtained an adjournment to appoint new counsel.
Once new counsel was engaged, the lawyer requested time to study the case file and prepare and file witness statements, but the judge refused and insisted that cross-examination of Kan Dapaah proceed.
Barker-Vormawor stated that his side missed court on one occasion, after which the judge struck out his defence and scheduled a date for judgement.
His legal team later filed motions to relist the defence, accompanied by witness statements from himself and another witness, as well as a motion to arrest judgement. The court refused these applications and went ahead to enter judgement for Kan Dapaah.
He pointed out that cross-examination had not even been completed.
“Of course we will seek to set it aside. But he can take his victory lap,” Barker-Vormawor wrote.
He also invited the public to read his witness statement, which he said the court declined to consider.