Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas must sue the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, for defamation in connection with some allegations the lawmaker has made against him, Professor Ranford Gyampo, Head of European Studies at the University of Ghana, has said.
According to him, Anas has built a credible reputation for himself over all these years, therefore, he must institute legal actions against Mr Agyapong if the allegations are not true.
Mr Agyapong, speaking about Anas’ modus operandi on Badwam on Accra-based Adom TV on Tuesday, 29 May 2018, described the undercover journalist as a corrupt person who sets up people with the aim to destroy their reputation through blackmail.
“I call on President Akufo-Addo to reinstate all the judges because the guy [Anas] enticed them. He used two boys, Ahmed and Rahman, to set the judges up. If you set people up, it is not investigative journalism … and I’ll prove to the whole Ghana that the boy is so corrupt and wicked, evil from the things he has done, bringing institutions that have been built over the years, down for him to be rich.”
“From what I’ve seen and what I know, I’m going to show the pictures… Anas is a thief because if he can set people up in Dubai, take their money and buy tablets, ship them to Ghana and refuse to pay taxes on them, for the wife to sell, you think we are stupid in this country?” he quizzed.
Commenting on the matter on his Facebook page, Prof Gyampo said: “The allegations made by Kennedy Agyapong against Anas are damning and too serious to be ignored. It is disingenuous on the part of Anas to create problems for individuals in order to unearth problems of society in a liberalist and libertarian state. One cannot pontificate on morality and lawfulness if he himself cannot mount the moral high grounds.
“But the allegations may also be diversionary tactics to take minds off the issues thrown in the public domain and to discredit the investigator. We must not be oblivious of one key strategy to win arguments and debates. It is a strategy called ‘Ridicule to Discredit’. This strategy, oftentimes, commits an ad hominem fallacy by attacking the person of the one who wields a superior argument instead of dealing with the issues raised.
“Whether the attempt to unmask Anas is diversionary or not, the records must be set straight in order to clear the minds of Ghanaians. Anas must go to court to clear his name. His invaluable contributions to the fight against corruption cannot be discounted so easily. His role in augmenting weak institutions in our country must not be dented by such allegations. I trust his mentor, Kwaku Baako and want to believe he would encourage his mentee to do the right thing to clear his name in order not to break the hearts of many Ghanaians”, Prof Gyampo wrote.
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I have been listening to the debate generated by the recent expose of Anas on Kwasi Nyantekyi.
I have heard all that Kennedy Agyapong has said and have noted his attempt to unmask him. Indeed, I am currently watching Net 2 TV which is featuring series of discussions by individuals who are taking turns to expose and discredit Anas.
As usual, I have my views on this which must be articulated dispassionately. I am not making allegations against anybody. I am going to raise questions that bother my mind.
1. The allegations made by Kennedy Agyapong against Anas are damning and too serious to be ignored. It is disingenuous on the part of Anas to create problems for individuals in order to unearth problems of society in a liberalist and libertarian state. One cannot pontificate on morality and lawfulness if he himself cannot mount the moral high grounds.
2. But the allegations may also be diversionary tactics to take minds off the issues thrown in the public domain and to discredit the investigator. We must not be oblivious of one key strategy to win arguments and debates. It is a strategy called “Ridicule to Discredit”.
This strategy oftentimes commits an ad hominem fallacy by attacking the person of the one who wields a superior argument instead of dealing with the issues raised.
3. Whether the attempt to unmask Anas is diversionary or not, the records must be set straight in order to clear the minds of Ghanaians.
Anas must go to court to clear his name. His invaluable contributions to the fight against corruption cannot be discounted so easily. His role in augmenting weak institutions in our country must not be dented by such allegations. I trust his mentor, Kwaku Baako and want to believe he would encourage his mentee to do the right thing to clear his name in order not to break the hearts of many Ghanaians.
4. Assuming without admitting that the allegations against Anas are true, why are they being made now? Those making the allegations seem to have a lot of damning information about Anas and his activities. Why have they kept the information to their chest all this while?
Why are they coming out now? Is it because it’s about one person, Kwasi Nyantakyi? Is Kwasi Nyantakyi untouchable? Is Kwesi Nyantakyi’s interest superior to all those exposed by Anas previously? Is Kwesi Nyantakyi superior to the judges?
Listening to discussions on Net 2 TV, I can appreciate that the panelists appear to know much about the allegedly crude modus operandi of Anas in his previous exposes, right from the one in Osu Children’s Home.
The question is, why didn’t they raise objections with the approach used then? What is driving Kennedy Agyapong now? Does he hate Anas? Does he like Nyantakyi so much? Is it for God and country alone?
5. Just as Anas must go to court, those making the allegations must also explain to Ghanaians why the mention of only one man in an expose has triggered their attempt to unmask Anas.
6. Let me summarize by saying that the work of Anas is critical to the fight against corruption. Nothing must be done to discourage him. But he must not be encouraged to resort to unethical means to obtain his findings.
If the allegations being made are true, the timing makes the intentions of those making them quite suspicious. My father told me that a BAD thing is a GOOD thing done at the wrong time.
Nevertheless, if the intentions of those making the allegations are for God and country and nothing else, then Ken Agyapong must be commended in spite of the timing of his outbursts.
Anas should then brace himself to face the wrath of the laws of the land and he must be prepared to lose some respect from Ghanaians. But these may not last long and must not discourage a man with an eye of a tiger from continuing his work for God and country. When the righteous fall 7 times, he must rise 7 times.
Many Ghanaians are now confused and will be very happy if the allegations made against Anas are proven to be false within the shortest possible time. We will love to hear Anas speak on these allegations and go to court to clear his name in order to save the hearts and minds of all those who admire him.
Yaw Gyampo A31 Prabiw PAV Ansah Street Saltpond
Source: classfmonline.com