Court Orders Bongo Ideas to Pay GH₵170,000 to Kojo Forex in Defamation Case

In a legal ruling, the Accra High Court has ordered social media commentator Albert Nathaniel Hyde, popularly known as Bongo Ideas, to pay GH₵170,000 in damages to forex trader Bright Kojo Onipayede, known as Kojo Forex, following a defamation lawsuit.

The lawsuit, initiated on 17th May 2023, stemmed from allegations that Bongo Ideas had published defamatory statements about Kojo Forex on Twitter, which reportedly damaged his reputation. Kojo Forex sought GH₵1 million in damages.

On 28th January 2025, Justice Forson Agyapong Baah delivered the court’s verdict, awarding Kojo Forex GH₵100,000 in general damages and an additional GH₵50,000 for aggravated, exemplary, and compensatory damages. The court also mandated that Bongo Ideas cover GH₵20,000 in legal costs.  

Beyond the financial penalties, the court instructed Bongo Ideas to issue a public apology and retract the defamatory statements on his Twitter account within 21 days of the judgment. A permanent injunction was also placed, preventing him from making further defamatory remarks about Kojo Forex.  

This ruling underscores the legal responsibilities associated with online commentary and serves as a cautionary tale about the potential repercussions of defamatory statements on social media platforms.