US Court awards Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18M in defamation case against Kennedy Agyapong
A United States court has ruled in favor of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw awarding him $18 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong.
The verdict, delivered by the Essex County Superior Court, stems from a lawsuit Anas filed over defamatory remarksmade by Agyapong during a September 7, 2021 interview on The Daddy Fred Show.
Defamatory Statements and Accusations
The online program, hosted by US-based Ghanaian Frederick Asamoah, featured Kennedy Agyapong making serious allegations against Anas. During the broadcast, he labeled Anas a “criminal” and a “thief” and further accused him of being responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale and the deaths of several Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Anas, known for his undercover journalism exposing corruption, argued that these false accusations damaged his reputation and put his life at risk.
Legal Battle in Ghana and the US
Before pursuing legal action in the US, he had previously filed a defamation lawsuit in Ghana, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court. However, the US court ruled in his favor, rejecting Kennedy Agyapong’s defense that his statements were made in the heat of political discourse and not meant to be taken literally.
The court found the statements to be defamatory, leading to the hefty $18 million damages award in favor of Anas.
This ruling marks a significant legal victory for the journalist and could have far-reaching implications for defamation cases involving Ghanaian politicians and public figures.
