Kennedy Agyapong, the former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has been found guilty of defaming investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas by a U.S. court. A jury in the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey delivered a unanimous verdict, ordering Agyapong to pay $18 million in damages for defamatory statements made after the broadcast of the BBC’s documentary “Betraying the Game” on October 28, 2018.
Anas described the ruling as not only a personal victory but also a message to Ghanaian politicians that the media cannot be undermined. He emphasized the importance of press freedom and accountability, reiterating his commitment to fearless journalism. Anas also contrasted the U.S. court’s fair judgment with his previous experience in Ghana, where his defamation case against Agyapong in 2018 ended without justice.
The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for judicial reforms in Ghana. Agyapong, who had previously presented audiovisual evidence and relied on a 2018 Ghanaian judgment to defend himself, was ultimately found guilty on all counts. The jury’s decision in the U.S. highlights the commitment to fairness and accountability in the legal process.
