Anas Aremeyaw Anas Wins $18 Million Defamation Case Against Former MP

Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas won $18 million from a US court after being defamed by ex-MP Kennedy Agyapong, who made false claims about him in a podcast. The ruling, which includes $8 million in punitive damages, reinforces press freedom and acknowledges the risks journalists face in exposing corruption.

A US court awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages after a jury found him defamed by former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong. The case stemmed from comments Agyapong made in a 2021 podcast that followed Anas’s 2018 BBC investigation into football corruption.

The court heard that Agyapong labeled Anas a “criminal” and suggested he was involved in the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale. Previously, Anas had lost a similar case in Ghana seven years earlier, but following the release of Agyapong’s podcast, he entered the court system in New Jersey, where Agyapong owns property.

The Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey unanimously found Agyapong liable for defamation. The damages included $8 million in punitive damages. Anas expressed that the victory was a triumph not only for him but also for press freedom and integrity in journalism.

Anas stated, “Justice don prevail. Dis victory no be just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist wey risk everytin to expose corruption and wrongdoing.” He remains determined to continue his fight against corruption.

Agyapong’s legal team argued that the case should not have been filed in the US and claimed that his podcast comments were mere opinion and hyperbole, thus not subject to defamation. Meanwhile, authorities in Ghana arrested a suspect related to the murder of Anas’s colleague, Ahmed Suale, who was killed in 2019 as part of an investigation into football corruption.

The court ruling in favor of Anas Aremeyaw Anas highlights the importance of safeguarding journalistic integrity against defamation. The significant $18 million award reflects the severity of allegations made against him. This case reaffirms the commitment to press freedom and the necessity for accountability in journalism, especially when exposing corruption.

Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com