Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has registered his displeasure with reports circulating on social media that Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong has won an appeal case against him.
Kweku Baako filed a defamatory suit against Kennedy Agyapong before an Accra High Court and the verdict went in his favour.
The court ruled that Mr. Agyapong should retract his defamatory statements and render an unqualified apology to the seasoned journalist.
He was also charged ¢130,000 for damages and legal cost.
However, recent reports on social media say the controversial MP and businessman had filed an appeal and won his case against Mr. Baako in the Court of Appeal.
Kweku Baako was asked on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 to address the issue.
Mr. Baako stated emphatically that the reports are absolute falsehood.
According to him, no Court of Appeal has declared Mr. Agyapong winner.
"That's a classic case of premature ejaculations . . . the TV station that reported the issue was completely uninformed and I'm being charitable, otherwise I'd say it was totally illiterate, uneducated understanding of what happened in court," he refuted the claims.
In hope to disabuse Ghanaians of the misconceptions, Mr. Baako explained what the issue really is.
"I think it's public record that the High Court after 22 months or so of litigation about Kennedy Agyapong vrs Kweku Baako ended in the verdict in my favour. It's public record. The court judgement too is public record and as it is, it's normal for that if you who have lost the case feels you're not satisfied with the judgement, you go on appeal. So, Mr. Agyapong and his lawyers took that path which was understandable. Indeed, they went to the High Court that gave that judgement to ask for stay of execution. The High Court dismissed it on basis that they haven't given any convicing reasons to show that the judgement wasn't sustainable or proper based in law or fact. So, it was dismissed
" . . On Monday, we went to the Court of Appeal and what happened was simple. The Court of Appeal, after examining all the factors, of course I and my lawyers; we opposed the application for stay of execution on basis that it has no merit and that they haven't given convincing reasons and so forth. And that's part of our tactical approach in terms of this case. So, the two lawyers engaged in some debate or if you like advocacy before the honorable panel. The judgement or the ruling based on the arguments they had was to the effect that, look here, stay of execution will apply to the apology and retraction . . . and so it means they granted the application in part but the 100,000 cedis imposed by the High Court, pay 50% [that is 50,000] now even before the appeal begins and pay the 30,000 which is the legal cost," he said.
He also emphasized that Mr. Agyapong and his legal team ''haven't filed the appeal yet. Because they haven't filed it, so the court has not sat on the matter as to whether your appeal has merit or not because you haven't brought it to court. What they brought to court was the application for stay of execution pending appeal. I mean, see, I'm sure a kindergaten boy will understand this".
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Baako took a swipe at the reporter who filed the report.
"He should go and take some basic elementary education in court reporting."
He further indicated his readiness to face an appeal by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.
"I'm very patient and resilient animal. I have time. I have stamina. I have endurance; I've capacity to wait and wait and wait. No matter what happens, appeal is a legitimate due process that anybody or everybody is entitled to. It could be delay tactics; it could be anything, Kweku Baako will patiently wait. Because I'm confident, absolutely confident," he asserted.
<<Print>>