A group identifying itself as Concerned NPP Lawyers has issued a strong-worded press statement accusing prominent media personality and lawyer, Mr. Sampson Lardy Anyenini, of unethical, biased, and unprofessional conduct in his role as host of the current affairs programme Newsfile on Joy News.
In a release dated Sunday, May 18, 2025, and signed by their convenor, William Kusi, Esq., the group criticized Mr. Anyenini for allegedly using his media platform to engage in “inflammatory rhetoric” and “slanderous attacks” particularly targeted at Member of Parliament and NPP stalwart, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.
The lawyers argue that Mr. Anyenini’s repeated use of phrases such as “lootocratic politics” and implications that Hon. Agyapong has engaged in corruption or judicial manipulation are defamatory and unsupported by any judicial findings. They accused the Newsfile host of denying the MP a fair opportunity to respond, a move they say violates the Ghana Journalists Association’s Code of Ethics as well as professional standards binding on lawyers.
“Such conduct is wholly inconsistent with the ethical standards expected of a Journalist, and more critically, a lawyer of Mr. Anyenini’s standing,” the group stated. “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.”
The Concerned Lawyers further expressed concern over what they described as Mr. Anyenini’s tendency to undermine the judiciary. They cite instances where he allegedly questioned the integrity of Supreme Court decisions and compared Ghana’s legal system unfavourably to foreign jurisdictions, describing the latter as “civilized societies.”
“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,” they added.
In a stern warning, the group issued a seven-day ultimatum to Mr. Anyenini to retract his “offensive, unethical, and unprofessional remarks” and desist from using his platform to malign Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and the judiciary. They threatened to take the following actions should he fail to comply:
1. Petition the National Media Commission (NMC) over breaches of journalistic ethics;
2. Report him to the General Legal Council for professional misconduct;
3. Write to Multimedia Group Limited to investigate his alleged misuse of their platform;
4. Initiate legal proceedings for a retraction of the alleged defamatory comments.
While asserting that their action is not an attempt to stifle press freedom or free speech, the group insists that media influence must be wielded responsibly—especially by professionals trained in the law.
“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,” the statement concluded.
Efforts to reach Mr. Sampson Lardy Anyenini for a response were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Read the Statement Below.
