There were heated exchanges in open court as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyepong and lawyers for investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas traded in vulgar language.
Under cross-examination lawyers of Anas sought to enquire about the personal competency of Ken Agyepong regarding a video he obtained from Salis Newspaper, one of the basis for his ‘Who Watches the Watchman.’
Unhappy with counsel’s use of the word “incompetent” the MP who is the respondent in the GHc25 million defamation suit from Anas, exploded in open court.
“The words he (counsel) used were an insult to me (Ken Agyepong). He earlier said I’m incompetent…You are foolish, who the hell do you think you are? I am a Member of Parliament. My Lord, he (Counsel) is disrespecting me. Have you campaigned before?,” a visibly angry Ken Agyapong asked.
Sammy Darko, one of the lawyers of Anas rose to his feet and said if the witness (Ken Agyapong) disrespects the Bar, he is disrespecting the court. According to him, the action and the conduct of the witness is disrespectful to the court.
The court presided over by Justice Eric Baah intervened and said, lawyers and witnesses address the court and not lawyers of the parties, adding thatIf there is any foul language used, it goes against the dignity of the court.
The judge said, “I agree that the unprinted words used by the defendant are not acceptable and I call on him to withdraw his words”
The court also urged Counsel for the plaintiff to also watch his words in dealing with the matter and urged him to focus on the substance of the case.
The Assin Central MP Ken Agyepong subsequently apologised to the court and tempers were calmed down.
The court accepted the apology of the witness but cautioned the lawyer for the plaintiff to be mindful of the words used.
