Anas Aremeyaw Anas, an investigative journalist, has announced his intention to appeal the High Court’s ruling in a defamation lawsuit he lost against Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong.
In a statement, Anas expressed unhappiness with the outcome of a defamation case he filed in 2018 in response to statements made by Mr. Agyapong after airing his Number 12 investigation into football and related corruption.
The judge, Judge Eric Baah, described Anas’ investigation method as terrorism and decided that the MP was correct in utilising the adjectives Anas sought redress for.
Anas has now indicated that he will appeal the decision since Kennedy Agyapong’s allegations that he was a murderer were not established in court.
“Although the news about the dismissal of our defamation suit against the Member of Parliament was unexpected, I disagree with the judge’s reason both in law and the facts. My team of lawyers and I have carefully studied the judgment delivered by the court, and we are unanimous that the judge made an overreach and descended into the area, and made a criminal pronouncement about me as if I was standing a criminal trial. He also justified the MP accusing me of the murder of the late JB Danquah, the murder of 20 Chinese nationals, and a host of other crimes. We are filing an appeal because there was no evidence provided”, he said in a 2-minute video.
The Court in the case, Justice Eric Baah in a lengthy judgment, found that the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas] failed to prove that Kennedy Agyapong defamed him by screening the documentary – “Who watches the watchman”.
The court also ruled that Agyapong presented adequate evidence to show that the plaintiff used the findings of his study to seek money from people involved in the evidence he gathered.
Nonetheless, Anas called the dismissal of the defamation action against the politician a miscarriage of justice.
He noted that the judgment is detrimental to the administration of justice and fairness, but that it will not deter him from his anti-corruption crusade.
“It is the evidence in my work and the commitment to truth and justice that has always led me and prevailed against all the forces that have worked to pull us down. My team and I remain unwavering, despite the attacks and threats on our lives. We remain guided by the principles of fairness, integrity, and courage as we continue our investigation in the public interest. I strongly believe in the rule of law. The fight continues. Nothing will stop us from fighting corruption for mother Ghana”, Anas further added.
