A US court has ordered former Ghanaian Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Agyapong to pay $18 million in damages to renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas after finding him guilty of defamation.
The case arose from statements made by an ex-lawmaker following Anas’ 2018 BBC Africa Eye investigation, which exposed widespread corruption in Ghanaian and African football.
On a podcast, Agyapong branded Anas a “criminal” and falsely accused him of orchestrating the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Hussein Suale in 2019.
Although Anas lost a similar case in Ghana seven years ago, he pursued legal action in the US after the podcast episode aired in 2021.
According to a report by BBC, the lawsuit was filed in New Jersey, where Agyapong owns property and appeared on the “Daddy Fred Show” podcast.
An eight-member jury at Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey unanimously ruled in Anas’ favor, awarding $18 million in damages, including $8 million in punitive damages.
Agyapong’s legal team argued unsuccessfully that the case should not have been tried in the US and claimed his remarks were opinionated hyperbole, not defamatory statements.
Reacting to the verdict, Anas said: “Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption. No intimidation or lies will silence the fight for accountability. Our work continues undeterred.”
Anas, celebrated globally for his undercover journalism, has pledged to continue exposing corruption and wrongdoing despite threats.
Recall in his keynote address at an international conference organised by WikkiTimes in collaboration with Northeast and University Gombe and Tiger Eye Foundation, Anas stressed that investigative journalism is a necessary tool for exposing corruption and other societal ills.
He emphasized the immense dangers investigative journalists face, particularly those who employ undercover tactics. “If you are not ready to pay the price, forget about investigative journalism,” he counselled aspiring reporters.
“You must be willing to endure the pain and trauma that come with this profession. The threats are real, and the risks are high,” he added.
Meanwhile, authorities in Ghana have arrested a suspect linked to the murder of Anas’ colleague, Ahmed Hussein Suale.
Reports allege the suspect shared Suale’s photos with a prominent Ghanaian politician prior to the killing, which has been connected to Anas’ football corruption exposé.
