In a landmark victory, investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has been awarded $18 million in damages by a US court in a defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
This ruling marks a significant triumph for Anas, who had faced setbacks in Ghanaian courts previously.
The lawsuit, filed in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, alleged that Agyapong and media personality, Frederick Asamoah, made defamatory statements against Anas on an online show called ‘The Daddy Fred Show.’
Agyapong allegedly accused Anas of being a criminal, thief, and even claimed he orchestrated the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, who was assassinated in 2019.
Court documents highlighted several false claims made by Agyapong, including:
Falsely convicted: Agyapong claimed Anas was convicted of crimes in Ghana.
Murder accusation: Agyapong accused Anas of orchestrating Ahmed Suale’s murder.
Chinese nationals’ deaths: Agyapong claimed Anas was responsible for the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Thief label: Agyapong labeled Anas a thief.
This US court victory comes after Anas faced a setback in Ghana, where he pursued a defamation case against Agyapong in 2018. Anas sought GH¢25 million in damages but was unsuccessful. The Accra High Court ruled against him, stating his investigative methods resembled “investigative terrorism” rather than legitimate journalism. This ruling was later reinforced by the Supreme Court of Ghana in 2024.
Undeterred, Anas pursued justice at the international level, and his persistence paid off. The Essex County jury’s decision is a decisive victory for Anas in his battle for reputation and justice.
