Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has secured a major legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
A jury in Essex County, New Jersey, delivered the verdict in favor of Anas, marking a significant milestone in his legal battle.
The lawsuit, filed on May 17, 2022, in the Essex County Superior Court, accused Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah of making defamatory statements about Anas on The Daddy Fred Show, an online program popular among Ghanaian audiences in the U.S.
During the show, Agyapong allegedly made several false and damaging claims, including labeling Anas a criminal, a thief, and accusing him of being responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
Suale, a key member of Anas’ investigative team, was assassinated in 2019 after the release of Number 12, a documentary that exposed corruption in Ghanaian football.
According to court documents, Agyapong's defamatory claims included:
• Falsely stating that Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana.
• Accusing Anas of orchestrating Ahmed Suale’s murder.
• Alleging that Anas was responsible for the deaths of several Chinese nationals in Ghana.
• Branding Anas as a thief.
This legal triumph in the U.S. follows a setback Anas faced in Ghana, where he had previously sued Agyapong for defamation in 2018, seeking GH¢25 million in damages.
However, on March 15, 2023, the Accra High Court ruled against Anas, with Justice Eric Baah describing his investigative methods as resembling "investigative terrorism" rather than ethical journalism. The court upheld Agyapong’s allegations that Anas engaged in extortion and blackmail. The Supreme Court of Ghana later upheld this ruling in 2024 with a narrow 3-2 decision.
Despite these rulings in Ghana, Anas pursued justice at the international level. His persistence paid off when the Essex County jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $18 million in damages—a decisive victory in his long-running fight to restore his reputation.