Kennedy Agyapong punches Anas

The legal tussle between the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central in the Central Region, Kennedy Agyapong and investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has taken another twist, as the MP has filed an application to dismiss the suit.

Lawyers for the vocal MP filed the application praying the court to dismiss Anas’ writ of summons because of irregularities on the face of the document.

His lawyer, Eric Okyere Darko, told the court that the address provided by the controversial journalist on his writ of summons was inadequate and they do not believe that that is where the plaintiff lives.

He averred that the address provided by Anas which indicates that he lives in Abdul Malik Baako’s office is not enough, as there are many Abdul Malik Baakos at Labone in Accra.

Apart from the alleged inadequate address, the defence lawyer wants the court to order Anas to reveal his true identity as he cannot hide behind a mask and institute legal action against the MP.




He said although the plaintiff has given another person the power of attorney to represent him in court, the court can issue an order for Anas to appear person and further order him to show his face.

He said hiding behind a mask to institute legal action ridicules the court as well as the judge as this practice is not known in the Ghanaian jurisprudence.

However, lawyer for the ace investigative journalist, Kissi Adjabeng, urged the court to dismiss the application, saying it has no legal basis.

He said Anas is not a stranger and is well known in the country.

Mr Adjabeng added that there is no merit in the defence counsel asking the court to order Anas to reveal his face in court because it’s a ploy by the MP to know the identity of Anas as he has said on many occasions.

The court, presided over by Justice Daniel Mensah, adjourned the matter to October 11, 2018 to rule on the application.

Kennedy Fumes

Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyapong has indicated that he would not continue to attend the court proceedings if Anas fails to come to court in person.

Speaking to journalists after the court proceedings, he said he cannot be wasting time to appear in court while the plaintiff has chosen to give another person the power of attorney.

“Anas is not above any law in this country. If he doesn’t remove it (mask), I will not sit in court and waste my time. He must remove whatever mask he has,” the MP said.

GH¢25m Defamation Suit

Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, sued Member of Parliament for Assin Central for GH¢25 million for defamation.

A writ of summons filed at an Accra High Court claims that the MP, in comments he made on some radio and television stations, portrayed Anas as an “evil and dishonest person who suffers from mental derangement.”

Anas has given the power of attorney to one Listowell Yesu Bukarson to prosecute the matter and testify on his behalf.

Anas, in the statement of claims, avers that Mr. Agyapong on an Accra-based TV station, Adom TV on May 29, 2018, called him a blackmailer, extortionist and evil.

The suit avers that Mr. Agyapong repeated the similar defamatory words about Anas on May 31, 2018 during a radio programme on Oman FM.

It also claims that Mr. Agyapong’s comments about Anas’ relationship with the wife of the deceased MP, JB Danquah-Adu and his property, meant that Anas was engaged in adulterous relationship with the wife of JB just before his death.

The writ also claims that Mr. Agyapong called for the lynching of Anas when he made his comments on the media platforms.

Anas is claiming aggravated damages arising from libel as a result of the comments to the tune of GH¢25 million, general damages for libel and costs, including lawyer’s fees.

Source: dailyguideafrica.com