An investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has secured a major legal victory in the United States, winning an $18 million defamation lawsuit against former Ghanaian lawmaker Kennedy Agyapong. A jury in Essex County, New Jersey, delivered the verdict in favor of Anas.

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The case, filed on May 17, 2022, in Essex County Superior Court, stemmed from statements made on The Daddy Fred Show, an online program with a strong Ghanaian following in the U.S.

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The lawsuit accused Agyapong and media personality Frederick Asamoah of making false and damaging claims against Anas.

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Among these accusations were allegations that Anas was a criminal, a thief, and played a role in the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.

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Suale, a key figure in Anas’ investigative team, was assassinated in 2019 following the release of Number 12, a documentary exposing corruption in Ghanaian football.

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The court documents outlined multiple defamatory statements made by Agyapong, including claims that Anas had been convicted of crimes, was responsible for the deaths of Chinese nationals in Ghana, and orchestrated Suale’s killing.

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This ruling comes after Anas suffered a legal setback in Ghana. In 2018, he pursued a defamation case against Agyapong, seeking GH¢25 million in damages.

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However, the Accra High Court ruled against him in March 2023, with Justice Eric Baah describing Anas' investigative approach as “investigative terrorism.” The Ghanaian Supreme Court later upheld this decision in 2024 with a narrow 3-2 ruling.

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Despite the unfavorable outcome in Ghana, Anas continued his fight for justice on an international level. His persistence led to a legal victory in the U.S., where the Essex County jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $18 million in damages and reinforcing his long-standing battle to restore his reputation.

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