Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has secured a major legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong.
A jury in Essex County, New Jersey, delivered the verdict after Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah were accused of making false and damaging claims about Anas on The Daddy Fred Show.
The duo labeled Anas a criminal, a thief, and linked him to the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale, who was killed in 2019 following the release of Anas’ Number 12 exposé on corruption in Ghanaian football.
Court documents revealed that Agyapong falsely claimed Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana and was involved in the deaths of Chinese nationals.
This ruling is a major comeback for the journalist, especially after his 2018 defamation suit in Ghana was dismissed. In that case, the Accra High Court sided with Agyapong, describing Anas’ methods as “investigative terrorism.”
Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that upheld Agyapong’s victory in Ghana, Anas persisted in seeking justice internationally.
His determination has now paid off, with the U.S. jury affirming his right to protect his reputation against unfounded accusations.
This landmark ruling not only clears Anas’ name but also sets a precedent for cross-border defamation cases, signaling that damaging statements made online or in foreign jurisdictions can have serious legal consequences.