U.S. Court Slashes $18M Defamation Award Against Kennedy Agyapong to $500
A U.S. court has significantly reduced the $18 million defamation award previously granted to Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in his case against former Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong. While the court upheld the jury’s verdict that Agyapong defamed Anas, it deemed the original damages excessive and reduced the award to $500.
Background of the Case
The defamation lawsuit stemmed from statements made by Kennedy Agyapong during a 2021 episode of “The Daddy Fred Show,” a podcast popular among Ghanaian audiences in the United States. In the episode, Agyapong accused Anas of being a “criminal” and falsely linked him to the 2019 murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale. These allegations followed Anas’s 2018 BBC investigation into football corruption in Ghana and Africa.
Initial Verdict and Subsequent Reduction
In March 2025, a jury in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey found Agyapong liable for defamation and awarded Anas $18 million in damages, including $8 million in punitive damages. However, Agyapong’s legal team filed a motion for remittitur, arguing that the damages were excessive. The court agreed, reducing the award to $500 while maintaining the guilty verdict.
Reactions
Anas expressed that the legal battle was about justice and not monetary compensation. He emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for defamatory statements, especially those that endanger journalists’ lives.
Kennedy Agyapong, on the other hand, acknowledged the court’s decision and reflected on the experience, stating that it had made him a better person.
