Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament representing Assin Central, is advocating for the reinstatement of all individuals who were fired from their jobs as a result of being captured in what he refers to as “terrible” investigative work carried out by Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Agyapong calls Anas’s work on the matter “terrible.”
According to Mr. Agyapong, what Anas does is not journalism but rather blackmail, and he views his actions as such.
Kennedy Agyapong’s remarks come on the heels of his victory over Anas in the defamation suit, which took place in court on March 15.
The defamation suit that investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas brought against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong was thrown out by the Accra High Court. The suit was seeking GH25 million in damages.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, came to the conclusion that Anas Aremeyaw Anas did not prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary titled “Who Watches the Watchman?” Rather, the judge found that the documentary revealed questionable business dealings that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This came about after Anas, in 2018, filed a lawsuit against a member of parliament representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for allegedly smearing his reputation.
Anas filed a petition with the court requesting that Mr. Agyapong be ordered to pay him GH25 million in order to compensate him for the defamatory material that was published against him by the MP.
The court came to the conclusion that what Anas is doing is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that it was appropriate for Agyapong to describe Anas as “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.”
According to the ruling made by Justice Baah, “I find the claims by the plaintiff (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) to be meritless, and they are hereby dismissed.”
Mr. Agyapong devoted his victory to the victims of Anas’ work, including Kwasi Nyantakyi, the former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), who was captured in Anas’ investigative work dubbed “Number 12,” which uncovered rot in Ghana football. Mr. Agyapong dedicated his victory to the victims of Anas’ work.
After the hearing in court, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong gave an interview to the media in which he stated, “We have to be bold to speak the truth.” Anas goes ahead to [allegedly] defame people and gets away with it.
It is only in this country that you will find a journalist covering his face in order to testify before the Supreme Court while the judges are sitting there.
“Anas needs to make his presence known and apologize.” All I’m trying to say is that Kwasi Nyantakyi deserves the victory.
Kennedy Agyapong emphasized that those individuals who had been fired as a result of Anas’s terrible behavior should be reinstated.
In the meantime, Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s private investigation company, Tiger Eye PI, has expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision made by the court.
Tiger Eye PI issued the following statement in response to the decision: “We find the court decision to be a very unfortunate travesty of justice and very inimical to the administration of justice and fairness.” If for no other reason, I made an accusation of murder against Anas.
In addition, it stated that “Tiger Eye PI and our CEO, Anas Aremeyaw, remain unwavering in our commitment to eradicate corruption from Ghanaian society.”