Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has secured a significant legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
The verdict was delivered by a jury in Essex County, New Jersey.
The lawsuit, filed on May 17, 2022, in the Essex County Superior Court, accused Kennedy Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah of making defamatory statements against Anas during an episode of The Daddy Fred Show, an online program popular among Ghanaian audiences in the United States.
During the program, Agyapong allegedly made a series of damaging and false claims, including accusing Anas of being a criminal, a thief, and responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
Suale, a key member of Anas’ investigative team, was assassinated in 2019 following the release of Number 12, a documentary that exposed corruption in Ghanaian football.
The court documents highlighted several specific allegations made by Agyapong, including:
Falsely claiming that Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana.
Accusing Anas of orchestrating Ahmed Suale’s murder.
Asserting that Anas was responsible for the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Labelling Anas as a thief.
This U.S. legal triumph comes after a setback for Anas in Ghana, where he had earlier pursued a defamation case against Kennedy Agyapong in 2018.
Anas had sought GH¢25 million in damages, citing defamatory materials published by Agyapong. However, the Accra High Court ruled against Anas on March 15, 2023, stating that his investigative methods resembled “investigative terrorism” rather than legitimate journalism.
Justice Eric Baah, who presided over the Ghanaian case, upheld Agyapong’s claims that Anas was an extortionist and a blackmailer. The Supreme Court of Ghana later reinforced this ruling in 2024 with a narrow 3-2 decision.
Undeterred by the unfavourable rulings in Ghana, Anas sought justice at the international level. His persistence paid off when the Essex County jury ruled in his favour, awarding him $18 million in damages, marking a decisive victory for the journalist in his long-running battle for reputation and justice.
citinewsroom