Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has issued a strong warning to politicians and the media following his significant legal victory in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey.
A jury found former Ghanaian Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong guilty of defamation and awarded Anas $18 million in damages.
The Essex County, New Jersey jury ruled in Anas’ favor after he accused Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah of making false and damaging statements about him on The Daddy Fred Show. These claims included accusations that Anas was a criminal, a thief, and responsible for the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale.
This victory follows a previous legal defeat in Ghana, where Anas lost a defamation case against Agyapong in 2023. The Ghanaian court had dismissed Anas’ claims, describing his investigative methods as “investigative terrorism.” However, Anas pursued justice internationally, leading to the favorable U.S. ruling.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Anas described the ruling as a major victory, emphasizing that it sends a clear message to Ghanaian politicians that the media must not be taken for granted.
“I stand before you today with a profound sense of vindication and determination,” he wrote. “Yesterday, in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, an eight-member jury unanimously found Kennedy Agyapong former Ghanaian MP liable for defamation, awarding damages of $18 million. These damages stem from statements he made after the airing of the BBC documentary on corruption, ‘Betraying the Game,’ on October 28, 2018.”
Beyond personal victory, Anas underscored the broader implications of the ruling, stating:
“This decision is not just a legal triumphit is a strong statement that falsehoods and character assassination have no place in our society. It reaffirms our commitment to building a democracy that serves all Ghanaians
Anas highlighted the challenges of proving defamation in the U.S., where a high legal threshold requires clear and convincing evidence of malice. The jury’s unanimous verdict, he said, confirms that Agyapong acted maliciously and recklessly in his attacks against him.
However, he pointed out the stark contrast with Ghana’s justice system.
“In 2018, I pursued a similar case in Ghana, but justice eluded me. Despite Mr. Agyapong admitting he had no evidence to support his claims, Justice Eric Baah of the Accra High Court not only denied me justice but unjustly labeled me, a civil plaintiff as a criminal.”
Anas recalled that Supreme Court Justice Kulendi later condemned the ruling as a “violent abuse of judicial authority,” emphasizing the need for urgent reform in Ghana’s judicial system.
Anas used his victory to remind politicians of the importance of a free press.
“Today’s ruling sends a strong message to Ghanaian politicians: the media is not to be undermined. The press plays a critical role in scrutinizing power and holding leaders accountable, and any attempts to suppress it will be met with strong resistance.”
He expressed gratitude to his legal team—Andrew Deheer, Esq., Arthur Wemegah, Esq., Evans Selasi Adika, Esq., and Odei Krow, Esq.—as well as his supporters and all who stood by him in his pursuit of justice.
