Entertainment journalist Anthony Osarfo wins 1 million malicious lawsuit against Asamoah Gyan

Award-winning screenwriter and entertainment journalist, Anthony Osarfo, has taken to Facebook to reveal that his 8-year legal battle against the retired Ghanaian footballer Asamoah Gyan and his manager, Samuel Anim Addo, for cooperating with the state to prosecute him has finally ended today, Friday, December 8, 2023.

Anthony Osarfo sued Gyan (1st Defendant) and his manager (2nd Defendant) jointly and severally for malicious prosecution — praying the court to award a cost of GH₵ one million as general damages, legal fees, and any other cost the court deems right against the Defendants.

In his Facebook post shared, he wrote:

 “I just won my Ghc 1m malicious prosecution suit against former Ghana Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, and his manager.

Its been a gutsy-8-year criminal and civil legal battle. Time vindicates, so here I am.

It’s a pyrrhic victory, but there’s nothing more noble than facing your accuser mano-a-mano, clearing your name, and compensation ruled in your favor for damages suffered.

With malice, they sullied my image with unfettered, ill-themed allegations — and subjected me to public animus. In the end…there’s no harvest…no justification.

To all who have in one way or the other been accused falsely before, you can relate: let’s ride on the crest of a new wave together 🍾

Namaste 🙏”

 

Background

In 2019, the Accra Circuit Court acquitted and discharged four persons accused of allegedly extorting money from Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan to stop the publication of rape and sodomy he was allegedly involved in.

The four persons namely; Osarfo Anthony (Arts/Entertainment Writer), Chris Handler (Blogger), Sarah Kwablah (Law Student), and Ekow Micah (Musician) were prosecuted on charges of extortion and conspiracy to commit crime.

In June 2016 year, an alleged sodomy story broke out in Ghana’s electronic and print media and attributed to Asamoah Gyan.

They said in the said publication that Sarah alleged that Gyan had sexual intercourse and anal sex with her and she became pregnant.

According to the prosecutor, Sarah discussed the issue with Micah and met Anthony and Handler to discuss the issue and to publish the story on their website in order to scare Gyan who will in turn give them money.

Anthony and Handler published the first story on their website and promised to release the sex tape in their subsequent editions.

Prosecution said a witness in the case read the story on their website known as Ghanabase.com and alerted the complainant.

The complainant contacted Anthony on phone and they threatened to release the sex tape unless a colossal amount was paid or a house was bought for Sarah.

The prosecution said in the complainant’s bid to protect the image of Gyan asked Anthony and Handler to hold on with the publication.

Prosecution said Anthony and Handler threatened to defame the Skipper and they called for an urgent payment of the money.

The Complainant, the prosecution said, feigned interest to pay. When Handler was contacted they charged GHc 30,000.00.

The complainant bargained and they settled on GHc 25,000.00.

The complainant, Anthony and Handler agreed to meet at the London Restaurant.

The Complainant reported the matter to the Police and on July 29, 2019, Anthony met at the London Restaurant and 1,000 dollars, GHc 6,000.00 and a cheque of GHc 15,000.00 was given to him.

Anthony was however nabbed when he received the money. The rest of the accused persons were arrested later.