The Supreme Court of Ghana has dismissed an application by Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, known widely as Lilwin, and ordered him to pay GH¢10,000 in costs after he failed to follow through on efforts to halt a defamation case brought against him.
The ruling followed a string of unsuccessful attempts by Lilwin to pause proceedings in the ongoing suit filed by actress Martha Ankomah. His latest move, an application for stay of proceedings lodged at the apex court on March 4, 2026, came after similar requests had already been rejected by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
However, just a day before the matter was scheduled for a hearing, his legal team filed notice to withdraw the application while reserving the right to reapply.
“Please take note that the Defendant/Appellant/Applicant herein has withdrawn the Application for Stay of Proceedings filed against the Plaintiff/Respondent/Respondent with liberty to reapply,” the withdrawal notice stated.
When the case was called on March 31, a report indicates that neither Lilwin nor his lawyers appeared before the court. A five-member panel, led by Amadu Tanko, took a dim view of their absence, describing it as a lack of respect for the court.
“For the principal (actor) and his lawyer not respecting us (by absenting themselves),” the Court will consider a cost from the Plaintiff’s lawyers.
Counsel for Martha Ankomah, represented in court by Roland Karikari Apau on behalf of Nii Apatu Plange, urged the justices to award costs. The panel, which included Samuel Adibu Asiedu, Henry Anthony Kwofie, Dominic Dennis Adjei, and Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, subsequently struck out the application and imposed the GH¢10,000 penalty.
Settlement efforts stall
Back at the High Court, the dispute remains unresolved despite fresh signals from Lilwin’s side indicating a willingness to settle the GH¢5 million claim out of court.
This comes after an earlier attempt at settlement collapsed. Although both parties had initially agreed on terms, Lilwin declined to sign the final agreement, forcing the case back onto the court’s docket.
The suit stems from allegations that the actor made disparaging public remarks about Martha Ankomah, prompting her to seek damages, an apology, and a retraction.
Presiding judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Basit has adjourned proceedings to April 14, 2026, giving both sides another window to either finalise a settlement or proceed with the trial.
What the lawsuit claims
In her February 14, 2024 filing, Martha Ankomah argues that statements attributed to Lilwin damaged both her personal reputation and her association with the GTP brand.
She maintains that he falsely portrayed her as dismissive of Kumawood actors, allegedly claiming she refused to work with them due to concerns about the quality of their storytelling.
Describing the remarks as defamatory, she is seeking:
- GH¢5 million in damages for the alleged defamation
- Compensation for reputational harm
- Aggravated damages for what she calls malicious publication
- A public apology and retraction with equal prominence
- An injunction to prevent further similar statements
- Legal costs
With settlement talks uncertain and prior delays exhausted, the case now edges closer to a substantive hearing unless both parties reach common ground.
