Full Details: US Court Awards Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 Million in Defamation Case Against Kennedy Agyapong and Frederick Asamoah

In a landmark ruling, the Superior Court of New Jersey has awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against former Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong and social media commentator Frederick Asamoah. The judgment follows a protracted legal battle over defamatory statements made during a 2021 interview on “The Daddy Fred Show,” a popular online program targeting Ghanaian audiences in the United States.

The lawsuit, filed on May 17, 2022, in the Essex County Superior Court, accused Agyapong and Asamoah of making false and damaging claims about Anas during the interview, which was streamed live on Facebook and other platforms, garnering over 29,000 views. The defamatory remarks included allegations that Anas was a criminal, a thief, and responsible for the murder of Ahmed Suale, an undercover journalist who worked with Anas on the explosive documentary “Number 12.” Suale was tragically murdered in January 2019, and no one has been convicted for the crime to date.

Anas, renowned for his undercover investigations exposing corruption and human rights abuses, argued that the defendants’ statements were part of a deliberate campaign to tarnish his reputation and undermine his work. The court found merit in his claims, awarding him $18 million in damages.

Key Allegations and Court Findings

During the interview, Kennedy Agyapong made several defamatory statements, including:

1. Claiming that Anas was a convicted criminal in Ghana.
2. Alleging that Anas was behind the murder of Ahmed Suale.
3. Accusing Anas of being responsible for the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals in Ghana.
4. Stating that Anas was a thief.

The court determined that these statements were false and damaging to Anas’s reputation, leading to the substantial damages award.

Contrasting Outcomes in Ghana and the U.S.

The New Jersey ruling stands in stark contrast to a recent decision by an Accra High Court in Ghana. On March 15, Justice Eric Baah dismissed a GH¢25 million defamation suit filed by Anas against Kennedy Agyapong. In that case, the court ruled that Anas failed to prove that Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary “Who Watches the Watchman.” Instead, the judge concluded that the documentary exposed questionable activities involving Anas and his associates.

Justice Baah described Anas’s work as “investigative terrorism” rather than journalism and stated that Agyapong was justified in calling Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.” This ruling has sparked debate about the nature of investigative journalism and the limits of free speech in Ghana.

Kennedy Agyapong Seeks Reduction in Damages

Following the New Jersey judgment, lawyers for Kennedy Agyapong have applied for remittitur, seeking a reduction in the $18 million damages awarded to Anas. This legal maneuver highlights the ongoing tension between the two parties and the potential for further legal proceedings.

Implications of the Rulings

The contrasting outcomes in the U.S. and Ghana underscore the complexities of defamation cases and the differing legal standards in the two jurisdictions. While the New Jersey court found Agyapong and Asamoah liable for defamation, the Ghanaian court sided with Agyapong, raising questions about accountability, freedom of expression, and the role of investigative journalism in society.

For Anas, the New Jersey ruling represents a significant victory in his efforts to defend his reputation and work. However, the Ghanaian court’s decision has cast a shadow over his methods and credibility, fueling ongoing debates about ethics in journalism.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com