Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has secured a significant legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.The verdict was delivered by a jury in Essex County, New Jersey.
During the program, Agyapong allegedly made a series of damaging and false claims, including accusing Anas of being a criminal, a thief, and responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
The court documents highlighted several specific allegations made by Agyapong, including:
- Falsely claiming that Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana.
- Accusing Anas of orchestrating Ahmed Suale’s murder.
- Asserting that Anas was responsible for the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals in Ghana.
- Labeling Anas as a thief.
This U.S. legal triumph comes after a setback for Anas in Ghana, where he had earlier pursued a defamation case against Kennedy Agyapong in 2018.
Anas had sought GH¢25 million in damages, citing defamatory materials published by Agyapong. However, the Accra High Court ruled against Anas on March 15, 2023, stating that his investigative methods resembled “investigative terrorism” rather than legitimate journalism.
Undeterred by the unfavorable rulings in Ghana, Anas sought justice at the international level. His persistence paid off when the Essex County jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $18 million in damages, marking a decisive victory for the journalist in his long-running battle for reputation and justice.