Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ GHc25M defamation suit against Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has been assigned to a new judge.
After watching the “Who Watches the Watchman” Documentary in court on July 4, 2021, lawyers of Anas were expected to subject the MP to further cross-examination on the case today.
But, in court on Monday, November 1, Justice Gifty Agyei Addo has now been assigned to the case and takes over from Justice Eric Baah.
Lawyers of Anas who were present in court were also informed that Mr. Agyepong had earlier written to the court that he was out of the jurisdiction.
Lawyers of Anas wondered why they were not copied in the said letter but the court showed them a copy.
The case was adjourned to December 1, 2021.
Lawyers of ace investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on, July 5, 2021, commenced the cross-examination of the Member of Parliament after watching “Who Watches the Watchman” Documentary.
The Documentary though already in the public domain, was only watched in court by the parties directly involved in the case together with the judge.
Earlier Cross-examination
At the last court sitting on June 29, under cross-examination on his written statement, Ken Agyepong told the court that, the Salis newspaper brought him the video and according to them, it was recorded as far back as 2010.
According to him, they brought it to him around 2018, when Kwesi Nyantakyi was accused by the plaintiff that Nyantakyi was corrupt during his tenure GFA boss.
Though agreed with counsel that, per his own admission he cannot testify to the authenticity of the content of the exhibits Who Watches the watchman, he explained that, “I can testify because, I did further investigations before, I showed the video.”
He said, the first video was recorded in Lagos Town in Accra and the second one was recorded in a prosecutor’s office.
‘The first video ‘KOA1’ and is titled ‘Who Watches The Watchman’. It happened in Lagos Town in Accra when the plaintiff was trying to extort money from a group of fraudsters who had gone to defraud a man who wanted to buy gold.
“The second one was the plaintiff talking to a prosecutor in the said case how to destroy the case by giving the prosecutor $5k and also claimed to have given money to the CID Head,” he explained.
He further told the court that, ‘I’m not the author, but when I saw the video, I did my own investigations by calling some people in the video. I called Aziz and he confirmed that Yes, the meeting did happen at Lagos Town. Aziz further came on air to admit that it was true. I called the current EOCO director who was then the CID Director that the plaintiff mentioned in the video that he has given him (CID Director) money. So after the check then we showed the video. I admit that I’m not the author but I did my investigations to authenticate the truth in that video.
“My Lord, simply put, I was told and also saw the video to support what the Salis Newspaper told me. They have a video, that is what has been tendered in,” he noted.
Background
Sometime in 2018, the ace international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas dragged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defaming him.
Anas was asking the High Court to award aggravated damages to the tune of GH¢25 million arising from defamatory materials published by the MP.
He said, the MP had been publishing materials in his bid to discredit the investigative journalist, who had released an explosive piece on the rot in Ghana football.
Displeased with the MP’s actions, Anas has, through his lawyer, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, sued Mr Agyapong for the award of general damages for defamation in the defendant’s publications.
A journalist, Mr. Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has been granted the lawful attorney to stand in for Anas.
Publications
The publication complained of are a May 29, 2018, live programme in Twi on Adom TV, where Mr Agyapong categorically stated that Anas was a blackmailer, corrupt, extortionist, and evil.
According to the statement of claim, the defendant, in a similar manner, published defamatory words on May 31, 2018 via Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant.
The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
