A newly surfaced video has added an intriguing twist to the ongoing legal proceedings between investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and former Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Kennedy Agyapong, in the United States of America.
The lead lawyer representing the Ghanaian politician and businessman vehemently argued in court that his client’s statements about his immense wealth were nothing more than exaggerated boasting—or as he put it, “puffery.”
The drama unfolded when lawyers for investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas sought to admit a video into evidence.
The footage captured Kennedy Agyapong making bold claims about his wealth, including a striking statement that: “With the exception of Bloomberg, I’m richer than any American politician.” Other clips in the video highlighted Agyapong boasting about constructing a massive 45-bedroom mansion, among other grand assertions.
Anas’ legal team argued that these declarations underscored Agyapong’s vast financial resources, urging the jury to consider these remarks when determining the punitive damages to be imposed on him. They posited that his wealth justified a steeper penalty.
However, the courtroom soon became a battleground of arguments when Agyapong’s lawyer objected to the video’s inclusion as evidence.
Describing his client’s comments as harmless bravado, he asserted, “Judge, a lot of those statements are puffery… Puffery happens all the time!” Drawing a colourful analogy, he remarked, “On Denzel Washington, this is puffery, Judge,” which briefly injected some levity into the otherwise serious proceedings.
Despite these protests, the presiding judge ultimately ruled in favour of admitting the video as evidence, reasoning that it featured direct statements from Agyapong himself. The dramatic back-and-forth left a palpable sense of anticipation as the trial continued to unfold.
Stay tuned.
