NEWS ALERT: Asamoah Gyan Still Owes Over GH₵1 Million Judgment Debt – Accounts still Frozen

Recent reports on various websites and social media claim that the Supreme Court has quashed a judgment debt of over GHC 1 million that former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan is obligated to pay for initiating a malicious prosecution against entertainment journalist Osarfo Anthony. However, this does not reflect the actual ruling of the apex court.

Background.

On December 8, 2023, the defendants, Asamoah Gyan and his manager, Samuel Annim Addo, were ordered to pay GHC 1,061,000 in damages and costs. This judgment stems from a malicious prosecution suit filed by journalist Osarfo Anthony following his acquittal in an alleged sodomy and rape case involving the football star.

Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa, a Court of Appeal judge with additional responsibilities at the High Court, ruled in favour of Osarfo, awarding him GHC 900,000 in damages, GHC 111,000 for lost income, and GHC 60,000 in legal costs, totalling over GHC 1,061,000.

Stay of Execution and Notice of Appeal.

Gyan, through his attorneys, filed a motion to stay execution of the judgment and a notice of appeal. On May 8, 2024, the High Court upheld its judgment and granted a stay of execution, contingent upon Gyan and his manager paying 50% of the judgment debt to the court’s Registrar within 30 days, excluding weekends and public holidays.

The court instructed that the amount must be invested in a government of Ghana 182-day Treasury Bill on a rollover basis until the appeal is resolved. This arrangement aims to ensure that Gyan can fulfill the payment if he loses the appeal, while also protecting Osarfo Anthony from difficulties in recovering the money should Gyan win the appeal.

Garnishee Nisi

After the 30-day deadline passed without compliance from Gyan and his manager, Osarfo Anthony filed an Ex parte Motion for a garnishee order, seeking to compel Gyan’s bankers to appear in court and show cause why they should not be ordered to pay the judgment creditor from the defendants’ account balances.

The High Court granted the garnishee nisi. However, just as Gyan’s bankers appeared in court to disclose their account balances, Gyan’s lawyers had already filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court. This stalled the High Court’s proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Supreme Court Ruling.

Gyan’s legal team, led by Bobby Banson Esq., argued before the Supreme Court that the garnishee order should have been served On Notice to Gyan and his manager for seven days. The Supreme Court agreed with this argument, ruling that the garnishee process was improperly conducted. The apex court quashed the garnishee process (not the judgment debt).

The unanimous decision was delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Amadu Omoro Tanko, with Justices Yoni Kulendi, Senyo Dzamefe, Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, and Yaw Asare Darko concurring.

Asamoah Gyan and his manager remain fully indebted to Osarfo Anthony in the sum of GHC 1,061,000, representing the damages and legal costs.

Update.

On the same day the Supreme Court issued its ruling, Osarfo Anthony, through his lawyers led by Yaw Dankwah, filed a Motion on Notice for an order of decree of garnishee nisi and has served the various banks where Gyan and his manager hold accounts. The bailiff is currently attempting to personally serve the process on Gyan and his manager.

Next Court Hearing.

Come Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the bankers of Asamoah Gyan and his manager—CBG Bank, Ecobank Ghana, Zenith Bank, and GCB Bank—will appear in the High Court (Financial Court 1) to show cause why they should not be ordered to pay the judgment creditor from the credit balances in the accounts of the defendants/judgment debtors along with legal costs.