US Court Grants Anas $18M in defamation case against Ken Agyapong

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.
Labeling 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 unfavorable rulings in Ghana, Anas sought justice at the international level. His persistence paid off when the Essex County jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $18 million in damages, marking a decisive victory for the journalist in his long-running battle for reputation and justice.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Anas emphasized the significance of the ruling, declaring it a powerful message to Ghanaian politicians that the media cannot be taken for granted.

“I stand before you today with a profound sense of vindication and determination,” Anas wrote. “Yesterday, in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, an eight-member jury delivered a unanimous verdict finding Kennedy Agyapong—former member of the Ghanaian Parliament—liable for defamation and awarding damages of 18 million U.S. dollars. These damages arise from statements he made following the airing of the BBC documentary on corruption, Betraying the Game, on October 28, 2018.”

Describing the ruling as more than just a personal win, Anas stated, “This decision is not merely a legal triumph—it is a resounding affirmation that falsehood and character assassination have no place in our society. It reinforces our commitment to building a robust democracy that serves all ordinary Ghanaians.”

Anas underscored the challenges of proving defamation in the U.S., where the legal threshold is high and requires clear and convincing evidence of malice. “That the jury ruled unanimously in my favor underscores that Mr. Agyapong acted both maliciously and recklessly in his attacks against me.”

However, he lamented that the situation in Ghana was starkly different. “In 2018, when I pursued a similar lawsuit there, justice eluded me. Despite Mr. Agyapong’s own admission of lacking evidence to support his calumnious claims, Justice Eric Baah of the Accra High Court not only denied me justice but also unjustly portrayed me—the civil plaintiff—as a criminal. This ruling was later condemned by Supreme Court Justice Kulendi, who described it as a ‘violent abuse of judicial authority.’ Such outcomes are a stark reminder of the systemic flaws within our Ghanaian judicial system—flaws that demand urgent reform.”

Anas used the moment to remind politicians that undermining the media comes at a cost. “Today’s outcome sends a powerful message, particularly to Ghanaian politicians: you cannot take the media for granted. The press is indispensable in scrutinizing power and holding leaders accountable, and any attempt to undermine this essential function will be met with resolute resistance.”

He extended his gratitude to his legal team—Andrew Deheer, Esq., Arthur Wemegah, Esq., Evans Selasi Adika, Esq., and Odei Krow, Esq.—as well as his supporters and all those who stood by him in his pursuit of justice.

Source:Citinewsroom