Defamation: US court awards $18m to Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas

A United States court has awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million (£14 million) in damages after a jury said he was defamed by a former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong.

The case stemmed from comments Mr Agyapong made about Mr Anas after his BBC investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere.

The BBC, Thursday reported that the court heard that Mr Agyapong called the reporter a “criminal,” among other accusations he made against him on a podcast.

The member of parliament also alleged on the podcast that Mr Anas was behind the murder of fellow journalist, Ahmed Suale.

Mr Anas had earlier lost a similar legal action in Ghana seven years ago. However, after the release of the podcast episode in 2021, Mr Anas went to court in the US state of New Jersey, where Mr Agyapong has a property.

The politician was in New Jersey when he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by his lawyers.

Last week’s initial verdict was confirmed on Tuesday. The $18 million in damages was the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Mr Agyapong liable for defamation.

The figure included $8 million in punitive damages.

“Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me but for truth, press freedom and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption and wrongdoing,” Mr Anas said in response. 

(PREMIUM TIMES)