Ghanaian Journalist Wins $18M Defamation Lawsuit Against Former MP in US
US Court Rules in Favor of Anas Aremeyaw Anas Over Defamation Claims
A US court has awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million (£14 million) in damages after a jury found that former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong defamed him.
The lawsuit stemmed from remarks Agyapong made following Anas' 2018 BBC investigation, which exposed corruption in Ghanaian and African football. In a 2021 podcast interview, Agyapong accused Anas of being a "criminal" and implicated him in the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, who was killed in 2019.
Anas had previously lost a similar legal battle in Ghana seven years ago. However, he pursued the case in the US state of New Jersey, where Agyapong owns property. Court documents confirmed that Agyapong was in New Jersey when he made the controversial statements during an interview for The Daddy Fred Show podcast.
Jury Rules Unanimously in Favor of Anas
A jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey unanimously ruled in Anas' favor, finding Agyapong liable for defamation. The $18 million award includes $8 million in punitive damages. The decision was finalized on Tuesday, following last week’s initial verdict.
In response to the ruling, Anas expressed his satisfaction, framing the victory as a win for press freedom and investigative journalism.
“Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption and wrongdoing,” he said.
He vowed to continue his work, stating that no amount of “intimidation or falsehood” would deter him from pursuing accountability.
Defense Arguments Rejected
Agyapong's legal team argued that the lawsuit should not have been filed in the US, contending that his comments on the podcast were expressions of opinion and not grounds for defamation. However, the court rejected this argument and ruled in favor of Anas.
Developments in the Murder Investigation of Ahmed Hussein-Suale
Meanwhile, in Ghana, police have arrested a suspect linked to the murder of Anas' colleague, Ahmed Hussein-Suale. The suspect is accused of sharing images of the undercover journalist with a prominent Ghanaian politician before his assassination.
Hussein-Suale’s murder was tied to the same 2018 football corruption exposé that Anas had worked on, which was produced by BBC Africa Eye.
The court’s ruling marks a significant moment in the fight against press intimidation and defamation, reinforcing the legal protections available to journalists uncovering corruption and injustice.
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