Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has issued a strong caution to politicians and media practitioners in Ghana following his legal triumph in the United States.

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A jury in Essex County, New Jersey, found former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong guilty of defamation and awarded Anas $18 million in damages.A Defining Court Decision

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In a Facebook statement, Anas underscored the significance of the ruling, describing it as a decisive stance against misinformation and reputation damage.

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“I stand before you today with a profound sense of vindication and determination,” Anas wrote. “Yesterday, in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, an eight-member jury delivered a unanimous verdict finding Kennedy Agyapong—former member of the Ghanaian Parliament—liable for defamation and awarding damages of 18 million U.S. dollars. These damages arise from statements he made following the airing of the BBC documentary on corruption, Betraying the Game, on October 28, 2018.”

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Describing the ruling as more than just a personal win, Anas stated, “This decision is not merely a legal triumph—it is a resounding affirmation that falsehood and character assassination have no place in our society. It reinforces our commitment to building a robust democracy that serves all ordinary Ghanaians.”

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Anas pointed out the rigorous legal standards required to prove defamation in the United States, where malice must be established beyond doubt. “For the jury to rule unanimously in my favor means Mr. Agyapong’s actions were not only reckless but intentional,” he remarked.

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Reflecting on his legal battle in Ghana, Anas expressed disappointment over the outcome of his 2018 case against Agyapong.

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Anas took the opportunity to remind politicians that attacks on journalists come with consequences.

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. “In 2018, when I pursued a similar lawsuit there, justice eluded me. Despite Mr. Agyapong’s own admission of lacking evidence to support his calumnious claims, Justice Eric Baah of the Accra High Court not only denied me justice but also unjustly portrayed me—the civil plaintiff—as a criminal. This ruling was later condemned by Supreme Court Justice Kulendi, who described it as a ‘violent abuse of judicial authority.’ Such outcomes are a stark reminder of the systemic flaws within our Ghanaian judicial system—flaws that demand urgent reform.”

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He expressed gratitude to his legal team—Andrew Deheer, Esq., Arthur Wemegah, Esq., Evans Selasi Adika, Esq., and Odei Krow, Esq.—and acknowledged the support he received from colleagues and the public.

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