The decision regarding Anas’ GH₵25M defamation lawsuit against Ken Agyepong has been postponed until March 15.

The judgement in the defamation case brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyepong has been deferred by the High Court in Accra. Presided over by Justice Eric Baah, the court has set a new date of March 15 for the judgement. Anas is suing Agyepong for GH₵25 million over comments he allegedly made in public about the journalist after the airing of his investigative piece, #Number 12, which uncovered corruption in Ghanaian football.

The court had initially scheduled the judgement for Thursday, February 16, after the parties concluded their testimonies. However, the written addresses required by the court had not been filed by the December 6, 2022 deadline, and were instead filed at a later date. This prompted the court to defer its decision to allow Justice Baah enough time to write his judgement. EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported on these developments

Background

In 2018, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas took Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defamation. Anas was seeking GH¢25 million in aggravated damages due to defamatory content published by Agyapong, who had been trying to discredit Anas following his exposé on corruption in Ghanaian football. Anas’ lawyer, Kissi Agyebeng, filed a lawsuit against Agyapong for defamation in his publications. Listowell Yesu Bukarson has been granted power of attorney to represent Anas in the case.

PUBLICATIONS

In a statement of claim, it was alleged that on May 29, 2018, during a live program in Twi on Adom TV, Mr. Agyapong made direct and damaging accusations against Anas, calling him a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil. The defendant also reportedly made defamatory statements on May 31, 2018, through Oman FM, a radio station owned by the defendant.

The plaintiff further claimed that the defendant continued to publish defamatory materials about Anas through various platforms, including releasing pictures purported to be of Anas, with the aim of revealing his identity and jeopardizing his investigative work.