“Concern Lawyers of NPP” Closes In On Multimedia’s Sampson Lardi Esq. For Attacking Hon. Kennedy Agyapong 

Concerned NPP Lawyers  have lambasted Multimedia’s Sampson Lardi Anyenini Esq. over his recent attacks against the character and person of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.

Per agitations raised by the group, the latter, who is the host of a TV program on JoyNews dubbed “Newsfile” launched “a series of unwarranted, defamatory, and reckless attacks on the maverick politician, which are nothing but baseless allegations, devoid of factual backing and professional ethics.”

Convener for the group, Lawyer Williams Kusi, stated in press statement, issued on Sunday, 18th May, 2025 that Sampson Lardi Anyenini has persistently used his media platform to portray Hon. Kennedy Agyapong in a negative and prejudicial light.

“He has aired serious and often unfounded allegations against him, without extending a fair opportunity for a response. This is a clear violation of the principles of fair and balanced journalism, and an abuse of media responsibility.”

Lawyer William Kusi, one of Ghana’s fire-brand legal practitioners and an ardent disciple of the political ambition of Hon. Kennedy mentioned that the usage of words like “lootocratic politics” by Sampson Anyenini and insinuations that Hon. Ken has enriched himself through illicit means and influenced judicial outcomes through corrupt means lacks the support of judicial findings.

Premised on the foregoing, the group has given Sampson Anyenini seven (7) days, commencing from 18th May, 2025 to publicly retract what they have described as offensive, unethical, and unprofessional remarks.

Below is a copy of their press statement:

CONCERNED LAWYERS OF NPP

Sunday 18th May, 2025.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Attention: All Media Houses

PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED NPP LAWYERS ON THE UNETHICAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF MR. SAMPSON LARDY ANYENINI, HOST OF NEWSFILE ON JOY NEWS

We, the undersigned Concerned NPP Lawyers, are compelled to speak out in defence of the integrity of the Ghanaian judiciary and in protection of the professional and personal reputation of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, against the persistent unethical, biased, and unprofessional conduct of Mr. Sampson Lardy Anyenini, host of Newsfile on Joy News and a lawyer in Ghana.

Mr. Anyenini’s recent commentaries on his program has, in our view, crossed the boundaries of responsible journalism and professional ethics. His statements conflate legal analysis with inflammatory rhetoric and reveal a troubling pattern of behaviour that undermines confidence in Ghana’s judiciary while simultaneously launching unprovoked and slanderous attacks on the character of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.

Mr. Anyenini has persistently used his media platform to portray Hon. Agyapong in a negative and prejudicial light. He has aired serious and often unfounded allegations against him, without extending a fair opportunity for a response. This is a clear violation of the principles of fair and balanced journalism, and an abuse of media responsibility.

His use of phrases such as “lootocratic politics” and insinuations that Hon. Agyapong has enriched himself through illicit means and influenced judicial outcomes through corrupt means are not only defamatory but are also not supported by judicial findings. These claims have either been dismissed in court or lack any evidentiary foundation.

Such conduct is wholly inconsistent with the ethical standards expected of a Journalist, and more critically, a lawyer of Mr. Anyenini’s standing. By making unsubstantiated accusations on a public platform without offering a right of reply, Mr. Anyenini has fallen short of the standards required by both the Ghana Journalists Association Code of Ethics and the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules.

Equally, if not more troubling, is Mr. Anyenini’s tendency to cast aspersions on the judiciary. His recent commentary implied that certain Judges were complicit in allowing “blackmail and treasonable comments” to go unpunished and sought to discredit a lawful majority decision of the Supreme Court by glorifying dissenting opinions and implying corruption.

Even more disturbing was his comparison of a Ghanaian Supreme Court decision with an unrelated judgment from a U.S. court, concluding that “that’s how we do it in a civilized society.” This irresponsible statement implies that Ghana’s judiciary is uncivilized or inferior an assertion that is not only offensive but deeply damaging to the public trust in our judicial system.

Ghana’s courts are the cornerstone of our democratic system. Undermining their authority through careless and politicized commentary, especially by a senior lawyer, is conduct unbecoming of a member of the Bar and a betrayal of professional responsibility.

Mr. Anyenini’s conduct violates known journalistic standards and principles of responsible media commentary. It demeans the legal profession and undermines the solemn duty lawyers owe to the administration of justice. As such, his actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action before the General Legal Council.

We do not issue this statement lightly. However, as lawyers committed to the integrity of the legal system and the principles of fairness, we cannot remain silent when one of our own uses his dual platform as lawyer and journalist to malign others, promote biased narratives, and attack the very institutions that safeguard our democracy.

We therefore give Mr. Anyenini Seven (7) days from the date of this statement to publicly retract his offensive, unethical, and unprofessional remarks; Demand that he cease using his platform to impugn the judiciary and malign Hon. Kennedy Agyapong under the guise of legal commentary and warn that failure to do so will result in the following actions:

1. A formal petition to the National Media Commission (NMC) for violations of journalistic ethics;

2. A petition to the General Legal Council for misconduct and bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

3. A letter to Multimedia Group Limited, calling on them to investigate and address the misuse of their platform for partisan and defamatory commentary:

4. A Court action to compel a retraction of those unfounded and defamatory comments.

We re-affiirm that this is not an attempt to curtail freedom of speech or media independence. Rather, it is a call for responsible speech, particularly from those who wield influence in shaping public discourse. As legal professionals committed to justice and truth, we will not sit idly by while our courts, our clients, and our country are dragged through the mud by biased media actors abusing the trust of the public.

Signed,

William Kusi, ESQ.

Convenor Concerned Lawyers of NPP