Private Legal Practitioner and member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has sued Zita Benson for defamation.

This comes after the former Tourism Minister under the Mills/Mahama alleged on Facebook that the President's cousin has a hand in the Agyapa Royalties Agreement, among other claims.

In the video, Zita suggested that the NPP stalwart is involved in the deal, although Mr Asare Otchere-Darko had denied similar claims on several occasions.

"Who are the people involved in Agyapa? Our own senior Minister, Osafo Marfo's son is behind it. Gabby Otchere Darko is in it as a lawyer and he claims he doesn't know about it.

"He claims he did not know about it and is even going to court but today he himself confirmed that is privileged to be the lawyer of Agyapa," she said.

But reacting to this, Mr Otchere-Darko said the claims are "absolutely false," and a deliberate attempt to defame him.

He added that Madam Zita in the video also created an impression that he is a member of a nepotistic family that engages in inordinate and dishonest monetary gain through the seizure and plundering of public funds, assets and companies.

He is, therefore, seeking damages for the false publications.

Similar Suits

This is the second time Mr Otchere-Darko has filed a defamation suit against an individual over similar allegations.

The first was against Member of Parliament for the Bia East Constituency Richard Acheampong who alleged that Mr Otchere Darko is a beneficiary of the Agyapa deal.

In less than a month, Zita Benson has also been sued for making similar claims.

Agyapa Royalties deal

The Agyapa Royalties agreement still battles opposition form the public domain.

It has been largely opposed and highly criticised by members of the public including CSOs who are demanding the withdrawal of the deal over allegations that processes in the deal lack transparency.

Although government has denied the claims, the opposition NDC insists it is hiding something since it has failed to provide documents on the valuation of the deal, among others, after several demands.

Meanwhile, former President John Mahama has promised to abrogate the deal when he is given the nod as president in the upcoming elections.