Selma Ramatu Al-Hassan, a retired newscaster of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has hauled Blessed Godsbrain Smart, commonly known as Captain Smart, Onua TV and Media General Ghana Limited, to the High Court.
The retired GBC newscaster has accused Captain Smart and Media General of defamation.
Selma Ramatu Al-Hassan in court is “asking the court to declare the broadcast defamatory and to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing similar content”.
“She is also seeking orders compelling the defendants to retract the broadcast and issue a public apology on television, radio, and online platforms, with the same prominence as the original broadcast, on three separate occasions”.
“Additionally, the plaintiff is demanding punitive damages of GH¢10 million for defamation, as well as costs, including solicitors’ fees”.
In her lawsuit filed on January 28, 2026, at the High Court, the retired newcaster detailed that Captain Smart, during a television broadcast on November 28, 2025, accused her of allegedly having a child out of wedlock with the late former President, Jerry John Rawlings.
The court document stated, “The broadcast insinuated that the plaintiff had an illicit, adulterous, lustful and immoral affair with former President Rawlings and had a child out of wedlock with him”.
She further detailed that the broadcast was also shared on the station’s website and was circulated widely on social media.
According to her, the online engagement triggered disparaging comments from members of the public, adding that some social media users labelled her as “a woman with loose morals and a home breaker.”
Selma Ramatu Al-Hassan further argued that the broadcast by Captain Smart seriously damaged her image and standing in society locally and internationally.
The court documents added, “The widely circulated broadcast has lowered the plaintiff in the estimation of right-thinking members of society and subjected her to public ridicule, odium and opprobrium”.
She further stressed that Captain Smart and Media General knowingly allowed false content to be aired and purposely left it online to trend.
“The Defendants deliberately allowed the false broadcast to be telecast, posted on their website and to go viral on social media in a manner that invited mostly disparaging comments from the general public,” it stated.
The retired GBC newscaster cried out that the publication revived painful personal memories relating to her only child from her recognised marriage to the late Alhaji Tijani Nagaya.
Meanwhile, the defendants have been ordered to enter an appearance within eight days of being served with the writ.
See the post below:
🇬🇭 Selma Ramatu Al-Hassan Files GH¢10 Million Defamation Suit Against Captain Smart, Onua TV and Media General
— CDR AFRICA (@cdrafrica) January 29, 2026
The retired GBC journalist alleges that comments made by Captain Smart on Onua TV in November 2025 falsely claimed she had a child out of wedlock with former President… pic.twitter.com/qQ7wKjoFq7