By Alex Ababio
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has secured a major legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong, a former Ghanaian Member of Parliament for Assin Central.
The verdict, delivered by a jury in Essex County, New Jersey, marks a significant turning point in the long-standing feud between the two.
Case Background
The lawsuit, filed on May 17, 2022, in the Essex County Superior Court, accused Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah of making defamatory remarks about Anas during an episode of The Daddy Fred Show, an online program popular among Ghanaians in the U.S.
Agyapong allegedly made a series of false and damaging claims on the show, branding Anas a criminal and a thief and accusing him of orchestrating 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.
Allegations and Court Findings
Court documents outlined several key accusations made by Agyapong, including:
Falsely claiming that Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana.
Accusing Anas of masterminding Ahmed Suale’s murder.
Alleging that Anas was responsible for the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Labeling Anas as a thief.
The Essex County jury found these statements defamatory and ruled in Anas’ favor, awarding him $18 million in damages.
Contrasting Rulings in Ghana and the U.S.
This U.S. court victory follows a contrasting outcome in Ghana, where Anas had earlier pursued a defamation case against Agyapong in 2018.
Anas sought GH¢25 million in damages over defamatory materials published by Agyapong. However, on March 15, 2023, the Accra High Court ruled against Anas, with Justice Eric Baah stating that his investigative methods resembled “investigative terrorism” rather than legitimate journalism.
Agyapong’s claims that Anas was an extortionist and blackmailer were upheld by the court, and the Ghanaian Supreme Court later affirmed this ruling in 2024 with a narrow 3-2 decision.
A Victory for Reputation and Justice
Despite the setbacks in Ghana, Anas pursued justice internationally, leading to his decisive win in the U.S. The Essex County ruling not only vindicates him but also marks a critical moment in his battle to restore his reputation against years of public attacks.