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A United States court has ruled in favor of Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, awarding him $18 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong.
The Essex County Superior Court delivered the ruling following a lawsuit Anas filed over defamatory remarks made by Agyapong during a September 7, 2021, interview on The Daddy Fred Show, an online program hosted by Frederick Asamoah and broadcast in Twi.
Agyapong’s Allegations and Court’s Verdict
During the interview, Kennedy Agyapong labeled Anas a “criminal” and a “thief” and further alleged that the journalist was responsible for the murder of his colleague Ahmed Suale, as well as the deaths of several Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Anas, known for his undercover journalism exposing corruption, argued in court that these statements damaged his reputation and endangered his life.
While Ghana’s Supreme Court had dismissed a previous defamation suit filed by Anas against Agyapong, the US court took a different stance. The Essex County Superior Court ruled that Agyapong’s statements were defamatory, rejecting his defense that they were merely part of a political dispute and should not have been taken literally.
