US Court Reduces $18M Defamation Award Against Ghanaian MP to $500
Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas Vows to Appeal Ruling
A New Jersey court has dramatically reduced the $18 million (£13.6 million) defamation award granted to Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong to just $500.
The original judgment came after a jury found Agyapong defamed Anas by labeling him a “criminal” and accusing him of involvement in the murder of a fellow journalist. Following an appeal by Agyapong’s legal team, the court ruled the initial $18 million award was “disproportionate and legally unsustainable,” according to the former MP’s statement on X.
Anas, known for his undercover investigations into corruption, has announced plans to appeal the reduction, maintaining that his case was never about financial compensation.
Background of the Legal Battle
The dispute stems from Agyapong’s comments following Anas’ investigation into football corruption in Ghana. After losing an initial defamation case in Ghana – where a judge controversially described his work as “investigative terrorism” rather than journalism – Anas pursued legal action in the US, where Agyapong owns property.
Agyapong’s defense argued his statements were merely opinions protected from defamation claims. However, an eight-member jury in New Jersey’s Essex County Superior Court unanimously ruled in Anas’ favor in March 2024.
Journalist Sees Ruling as Vindication
Speaking to the BBC after the initial verdict, Anas called the decision a “vindication” of his work: “This encourages African journalists to be resilient and have the stomach to take the heat.”
Meanwhile, Agyapong has pledged to uphold “integrity, truth and accountability in public life” following his successful appeal to reduce the damages.
Anas’ Notable Career and Tragic Loss
Recognizable by his signature beaded face coverings that protect his anonymity, Anas has earned international acclaim for his investigative reporting. He remains committed to exposing corruption despite personal risks, including the 2019 murder of his colleague Ahmed Suale, another Tiger Eye P.I. journalist investigating corruption.
In a previous BBC interview, Anas shared his ongoing grief over Suale’s death, underscoring the dangers faced by investigative journalists in Africa.