Some media run to press minutes after the Assin Central MP alleged that the Minister for Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye and former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah had engaged in some corrupt conduct over a bungalow for Justice Samuel Marfo-Sau after his death in August 2021.
The indecent haste to give currency to the allegation was as shameful as it was most unprofessional. The allegation was very serious and one that was easily verifiable. It is the kind of story that must be told not in part but in full, with both sides of the coin. But not verifying put those spreading it and media houses at risk of defamation suits they simply cannot not defend.
His brother and lawyer, Raphael Agyapong, who is seeking to wrestle the Bamtama Constituency from the minister later explained that the concern was lack of consent from the judiciary to take over the property. Even if that explanation, an afterthought it seemed, was true, that was also very easily verifiable. All it required was a phone-call to the affected persons or the Judicial Service.
It was the height of reckless journalism to publish such defamatory comments by a man seeking votes for his brother, without the basic checks required by the ethics, natural justice and common sense.
I train journalists on these issues and I know no journalism school teaches this kind that tarnishes the practice generally. I defend journalists, but don’t come calling me, not even for the frequent free legal advice when you are induced or decide on your own to be this unprofessional.
Apologise now! It is the right thing to do without any prompting. It will also mitigate what those affected may do. You know they can sue just anyone, entity or group of persons spreading the false claims.
Joynews checks brought up a February 2023 Agreement between the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing. They mutually agreed to pull down four of those small houses sitting on those tracts of land into twenty modern houses. The judge’s house is one of two allocated by the ministry to the service for superior court judges. Upon completion, that’s within two years, the service gets four modern houses for its judges.
Truth is, the Government through the District Assemblies Common Fund has been doing a good job building modern houses for judges, judicial staff and courts. Justice Anin-Yeboah is credited with one of such projects where the Asantehene gave seven acres of prime land for a residential complex at Danyame, Kumasi.
The 20 units, fully furnished four-bedroom town houses each with a two-bedroom outhouse. The complex has a swimming pool, a seven-bedroom guest house, a club house, tennis court, a gymnasium as well as two apartment blocks made up of six three-bedroom residential units for other staff of the Judicial Service. The project began in April 2021 and completed within 18 months.
The Agreement also acknowledges the Housing Ministry’s redevelopment project will cater for security of the judges who will take up the four houses upon completion. It is obvious there is no wrongdoing in the matter contrary to the allegation.
Let’s just be ethical and responsible. That is My Take.
Samson Lardy ANYENINI
January 20, 2024
