Some Ghanaians on social media are alleging judicial bias against investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who has sued MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, for defamation.
This follows a decision by the Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin Yeboah, to grant the request of the MP for the judge hearing the matter to be changed to another judge he prefers.
Kennedy Agyapong had written to Anin Yeboah, requesting that Justice Eric Baah – a judge appointed temporarily to hear the defamation case – be brought back.
The substantive judge hearing the case, Justice Daniel Mensah, was transferred to Tema in 2020 and Justice Baah was appointed interim judge to handle the case pending the appointment of another substantive judge.
In June 2021, Justice Gifty Agyei-Addo was appointed to handle the case as a substantive judge but she was also taken off the case earlier this month.
Reports indicate that this was not communicated to the legal team representing Anas.
In her place, Justice Baah was re-appointed.
Reports indicate that Justice Baah was returned because, on the blind side of Anas and his legal team, Kennedy Agyapong had written to the Chief Justice to request that he should return to continue the case.
Kennedy Agyapong and his lawyers explain that Justice Baah was abreast with details of the case, including its nature and scope.
Documents show a week after receiving Kennedy Agyapong’s letter, the Chief Justice directed Justice Eric Baah to go back and continue the case as Kennedy Agyapong requested.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas sued Kennedy Agyapong for defamation, demanding GH¢25 million in damages from the vociferous legislator after, in series of media interviews ahead of the premiere of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ exposé on corruption in local football dubbed “Number12”, the MP accused Anas of entrapping persons captured in the investigative film.
He described Anas as very corrupt and alleged that he was fond of taking bribes to exempt some persons he captures in his investigative films.
After releasing photos he purports to be of Anas via Net 2 TV, which he owns, and putting out a supposed leaked tape to back his claims that Anas is corrupt, Kennedy Agyapong made remarks inciting violence against the journalist.