A group of lawyers affiliated with the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), calling themselves the Concerned Lawyers of the NPP, have issued a strongly-worded statement accusing legal practitioner and media personality Sampson Lardy Anyenini of “unethical, biased, and unprofessional conduct” over recent comments he made on Joy News’ Newsfile programme.
According to the concerned lawyers, recent commentaries made by Mr. Anyenini on his Newsfile show crossed the boundaries of responsible journalism and professional ethics.
The group is demanding a public retraction and apology within seven days from Mr. Ayenini for what they described as “persistent unprovoked and slanderous attacks” against NPP flagbearer aspirant and former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
According to the lawyers, Mr. Ayenini’s legal analysis on the show has strayed into inflammatory territory and “reveals a troubling pattern of behaviour that undermines confidence in Ghana’s judiciary.”
They also accused the journalist-lawyer of deliberately portraying Kennedy Agyapong in a negative light.
“He has aired serious and often unfounded allegations against him [Agyapong] without extending a fair opportunity for a response. This is a clear violation of the principles of fair and balanced journalism,” the lawyers argued.
Citing Mr. Ayenini’s alleged use of the term “lootocratic politics” and suggestions that the Assin Central MP had “enriched himself through illicit means” and “influenced judicial outcomes through corrupt means”, the group said such statements were defamatory and lacked legal basis.
Find below the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED NPP LAWYERS ON THE UNETHICAL AND
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF MR. SAMPSON LARDY AYENINI, HOST OF
NEWSFILE ON JOY NEWS
We, the undersigned Concerned NPP Lawyers, are compelled to speak out in defense 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 Ayenini, host of Newsfile on Joy News and a lawyer in Ghana.
Mr. Ayenini’s recent commentaries on his program have, 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. Ayenini 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. Ayenini’s standing. By making unsubstantiated accusations on a public platform without offering a right of reply, Mr. Ayenini 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. Ayenini’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 civilised society.” This irresponsible statement implies that Ghana’s judiciary is uncivilised or inferior—an assertion that is not only offensive but deeply damaging to public trust in our judicial system.
Ghana’s courts are the cornerstone of our democratic system. Undermining their authority through careless and politicised commentary, especially by a senior lawyer, is conduct unbecoming of a member of the Bar and a betrayal of professional responsibility.
Mr. Ayenini’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 a lawyer and journalist to malign others, promote biased narratives, and attack the very institutions that safeguard our democracy.
We therefore give Mr. Ayenini 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:
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A formal petition to the National Media Commission (NMC) for violations of journalistic ethics;
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A petition to the General Legal Council for misconduct and bringing the legal profession into disrepute.
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A letter to Multimedia Group Limited, calling on them to investigate and address the misuse of their platform for partisan and defamatory commentary;
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A court action to compel a retraction of those unfounded and defamatory comments.
We reaffirm 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
