In a historic ruling that underscores the global importance of press freedom and the safety of journalists, a US court has awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages after a jury unanimously found former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong guilty of defamation.
The judgement, delivered by an eight-member jury at the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, includes $8 million in punitive damages. It follows accusations made by Agyapong during a 2021 podcast episode, where he labelled Anas a “criminal” and falsely implicated him in the 2019 murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Hussein Suale.
The defamatory statements came after the airing of Betraying the Game, a 2018 BBC Africa Eye investigation led by Anas, which exposed widespread corruption in Ghanaian and African football. The investigation garnered global acclaim but also provoked fierce backlash in Ghana.
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A Battle for Truth Across Continents
Anas initially filed a similar case in Ghana in 2018. However, the High Court in Accra dismissed the suit and awarded costs against him, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court in a contentious 3-2 ruling.
Refusing to be silenced, Anas filed the defamation lawsuit in the United States, where Agyapong owns property and was residing at the time of the controversial podcast. The court acknowledged that Anas suffered significant emotional distress, reputational damage, and global disaffection due to the defamatory statements.
“Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption,” Anas said in a powerful post-trial statement.
“No amount of intimidation or falsehood will silence the pursuit of accountability. Our work continues, undeterred and unafraid.”
The Global Implications of the Ruling
The judgement marks a significant moment for media freedom in Africa and beyond, sending a strong message against the weaponisation of defamation to silence investigative journalism.
Anas, whose undercover investigations have earned him international acclaim and numerous awards, faced years of threats and public vilification. The court found that Agyapong’s actions were both malicious and reckless, aimed at discrediting the journalist’s integrity without any credible evidence.
The US court also granted additional relief, including an order barring Agyapong and social media commentator Frederick Asamoah—also named in the suit—from publishing further defamatory statements. Asamoah has been ordered to delete all previous defamatory content about Anas from online platforms.
Ghana’s Justice System Under Scrutiny
While the ruling has been celebrated abroad, it has sparked reflection on the state of judicial independence in Ghana. Anas noted with concern that, in Ghana, a judge had previously described him as a criminal, despite Agyapong admitting he had no evidence to support such claims.
“In Ghana, justice eluded me, even after my reputation was dragged through the mud. But in the United States, the truth has triumphed,” Anas remarked.
His comments echo growing concerns within Ghana and the broader African continent about the erosion of judicial impartiality and the increasing risk to journalists who dare to expose powerful interests.
A Victory Beyond the Courtroom
Anas’s legal victory is not just a personal one. It symbolises the resilience of African journalism and the unyielding courage of those who challenge corruption. The case highlights the transnational nature of press freedom, where justice may be sought beyond national borders when local systems fail.
As investigations into the 2019 murder of Ahmed Suale continue—with a recent suspect reportedly linked to a Ghanaian politician—this ruling renews international attention on journalist safety in Africa.
“This is not the end. It is a clarion call to protect whistle-blowers, honour our truth-tellers, and build judicial systems worthy of our democracies,” Anas said.
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