A traumatized mother has run to the court seeking an order for a compulsory psychiatric examination to be conducted on her child’s father, James Kofi Annan, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Effutu constituency in the Central Region.
The baby-mama, Lydia Lartey, who is the plaintiff in the case has indicated in her writ that Kofi Annan may be suffering from a psychiatric condition, citing his unpredictable outbursts and insistence on locking her in her own home during arguments.
In her writ filed at the Winneba District Court, Lydia is also requesting the NDC parliamentary candidate stays at least 400 meters away from her.
She has further asked that Kofi Annan’s access to their child be contingent on completing the psychiatric evaluation.
“I want justice for the time and opportunities wasted, and for the harm caused to my dignity and reputation,” Lydia told the court.
Apart from this, Lydia averred that the defendant did not let her know he was already married but he rather promised her marriage.
According to her, Kofi Annan impregnated her and begged her to keep the pregnancy, which she did and gave birth to a baby boy for him.
Lydia said it was after she had given birth and started to remind NDC parliamentary candidate of his marriage promise that she got to know the plaintiff was already married.
She claimed that Kofi Annan subjects her to verbal abuse and sometimes physical assault without any provocation and that at a point when she could not take it anymore and therefore was compelled to lodge a complaint with the Dansoman Police Station in Accra.
“Plaintiff says that defendant is very erratic, very temperamental and psychologically imbalanced and his actions were found by her to be mostly consistent with a person with psychological challenges.
“What informs the Plaintiff to believe that the Defendant is suffering from a psychiatric condition is his constant loud screams and howling in the night anytime there’s an augment. And sometimes subject Plaintiff to house imprisonments to the discomforts of everyone in the Plaintiff’s residence.
“Also, the Defendant has a habit that whenever he drives to Plaintiff’s residence at Accra, he remains alone in his car locked-up for unreasonably long period of time before coming out amidst mutters of strange utterances,” the writ averred.
In addition to these, Lydia claimed that Kofi Annan made her resign from her job with a promise of employing her but he did not fulfil the pledge for the past years.
Accordingly, she is asking for monetary compensation and cost of litigation.
Facts & Damages
Lydia is seeking GH¢500,000 in damages for lost earnings and emotional distress after their relationship resulted in a child.
She is seeking GH¢200,000 for emotional distress and an additional GH¢300,000 for lost earnings after quitting her job.
Lydia alleged that Kofi Annan, whom she met in 2015 during her national service at the Parliamentary Service of Ghana, convinced her to enter into a relationship with promises of marriage and a better life.
After resigning from her job, at his urging, she said Kofi Annan reneged on his promises, leading to emotional and financial harm.
In her statement of claim, Lydia narrated that she initially declined Annan’s romantic advances but eventually accepted after separating from her husband.
Again, Kofi Annan allegedly persuaded her to resign from her job, promising her marriage and employment in his business.
“When I confronted the Defendant as to why he decided to ruin my life, he unapologetically told me he only needed children from me due to my beauty, making it seem like I was just rented to produce a child for him.
“The Defendant’s conduct has traumatized me and brought shame to my family, who believed I was on the path to marriage with him,” Lydia lamented in her statement of claim.
The case is set to continue as the court considers Lydia’s claims and Kofi Annan’s response.
