Journalist and lawyer Samson Lardi Anyenini has renewed calls for Ghana to enact a Defamation Act with anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) provisions, warning that a growing number of lawsuits against journalists are being used to stifle public interest reporting.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 25, he expressed concern over the rising number of defamation suits against journalists and media organisations, disclosing that he is currently defending about 17 such cases.
According to him, many of the lawsuits fall under what are known as SLAPPs where individuals with financial resources resort to legal action to discourage media scrutiny and limit public discussion on issues affecting them.
“I can tell you that defamation suits are growing. On Press Freedom Day, the GJA President had a list of about 15 suits. I am defending 17 of these suits involving journalists and media houses. And I can tell you that most of them are what you call nuisance suits,” he disclosed.
Mr. Anyenini explained that once such cases are before the courts, journalists are often restrained from further reporting on the matters, creating a chilling effect on press freedom and public discourse.
“We need a Defamation Act that includes anti-SLAPP provisions to help address this problem,” he called.
The journalist and lawyer also advocated the passage of a Contempt of Court Act, arguing that clearer legal guidelines are needed to govern contempt proceedings and sanctions.
His comments come after an Accra High Court sentenced The Herald publisher Larry Dogbey to seven days in prison for contempt in a case linked to the newspaper’s reporting on a dispute involving businessman Kevin Okyere and multinational company Petraco SA.
![School prefect Asuo Angela, on behalf of students of Sagnarigu Girls’ Model JHS [right], presents a petition to Sagnarigu MCE Abdulai Gong [left].](https://www.citinewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAGNARIGU-1-350x250.jpeg)
