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Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghanaian journalist's $18m defamation award slashed to $500
A US court has slashed the $18m (£13.6m) awarded to Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in a defamation case to $500. Former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong was ordered to pay the huge sum after a jury found he had defamed Anas by calling him a "criminal", and of being behind the murder of a fellow journalist. Following a request by Agyapong's legal team for the amount to be reduced, a judge in a New Jersey court has ruled that $18m was "disproportionate and legally unsustainable", the former MP said on X. Anas said he would appeal against the ruling, despite his Tiger Eye P.I. media group previously saying that the case was never about money. The journalist began legal action against Agyapong after the ex-MP made the defamatory remarks following his investigation into football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere. Anas had filed an initial case in Ghana where he lost, with the judge describing his work not as journalism but as "investigative terrorism". He subsequently brought a different case before a court in the US, where Agyapong owns a home and where the ex-MP was when he recorded the defamatory interview on the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers. Agyapong's lawyers had argued that their client's comments were simply opinions and therefore should not be subject to defamation. However, the eight-panel jury in New Jersey's Essex County Superior Court disagreed, ruling unanimously in Anas' favour in March. At the time, he told the BBC the ruling was a "vindication of what I have always preached". "This goes a long way to encourage African journalists across the continent there's a need for us to be resilient. There's a need for us to have a stomach to take the heat," Anas said. After succeeding in his attempt to reduce the defamation award, Agyapong has committed himself to "upholding the values of integrity" and defending "truth and accountability in public life". The journalist is well known for masking his identity by wearing beaded face coverings. He has also won multiple international awards for his reporting and has vowed to continue fighting corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable. Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist who was shot dead in 2019, was a colleague of Anas who had also investigated corruption and had worked with Tiger Eye P.I.. Anas has previously told the BBC that he was still grieving the death of his former colleague. Reporter who sued MP and won $18m hopeful he will pocket the money Murder in Accra: The life and death of Ahmed Hussein-Suale Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigates football in Africa Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reporter who sued MP and won $18m hopeful he will pocket the money
An investigative journalist who won an $18m (£14m) defamation case says that, although he is hopeful he will receive the money, what is more rewarding is the message his victory sends. "The bigger impact for me is not the money but the fact that young journalists are encouraged [to hold the powerful to account] no matter how big you are [as] a politician", Anas Aremeyaw Anas told the BBC. The Ghanaian journalist first brought his legal case against Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong in their home country, but he lost. He then took the case to the US, where Agyapong owns property, and won. The libel case stems from comments the MP made about the journalist after his investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere. The court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a "criminal" and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale. Anas told the BBC he was still grieving Suale and that, despite the recent arrest of one suspect, he believes there are other culprits still at large. "From time to time I go to where Ahmed was shot, and I go to have my own quiet time. I go to his grave. "It encourages me. When Ahmed was alive he asked me one day: 'Boss, I want [to] assure you [that] one day if you should die, I would continue with the good work that you do'. I didn't know it was going to be the reverse because, all along... I was the one who was the target." Anas has been scathing in his criticism of Ghana's legal system, telling the BBC he believes "many" members of the judiciary "are doing nothing but tilting the scale of justice in favour of the wrong one". He decided to bring his case against the MP to the US state of New Jersey, where the politician was at the time he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by Anas' lawyers. The journalist's victory earlier this month saw him awarded $18m in damages as the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for defamation. The figure included $8m in punitive damages. "I feel very happy, I think that it's a vindication of what I have always preached. This goes a long way to encourage African journalists across the continent there's a need for us to be resilient. There's a need for us to have a stomach to take the heat," Anas told the BBC. Now that the court has ordered Agyapong to pay damages, the journalist says he is confident the funds will be transferred because his legal team's "due diligence" had assessed the value of property and businesses owned by the MP before bringing the case. "I cannot be 100% certain, but I know that my legal team has done some work and they have a plan," he adds. Anas says that, even though his case was won in the US, it should serve as a wake-up call to the rich and powerful that African journalists can and will hold them to account. "We also have the capacity to stand toe-to-toe with you. Whilst we are patient, whilst we are honest, our day will definitely come." Additional reporting by Thomas Naadi Betraying the Game: African officials filmed taking cash Ghana dissolves football association after BBC investigation into corruption Players union welcomes life ban for Gabon football coach over sexual abuse Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Anas Aremeyaw Anas: Ghanaian journalist hopeful he will get damages from Kennedy Agyapong
An investigative journalist who won an $18m (£14m) defamation case says that, although he is hopeful he will receive the money, what is more rewarding is the message his victory sends."The bigger impact for me is not the money but the fact that young journalists are encouraged [to hold the powerful to account] no matter how big you are [as] a politician", Anas Aremeyaw Anas told the Ghanaian journalist first brought his legal case against Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong in their home country, but he then took the case to the US, where Agyapong owns property, and won. The libel case stems from comments the MP made about the journalist after his investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a "criminal" and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed told the BBC he was still grieving Suale and that, despite the recent arrest of one suspect, he believes there are other culprits still at large."From time to time I go to where Ahmed was shot, and I go to have my own quiet time. I go to his grave."It encourages me. When Ahmed was alive he asked me one day: 'Boss, I want [to] assure you [that] one day if you should die, I would continue with the good work that you do'. I didn't know it was going to be the reverse because, all along... I was the one who was the target."Anas has been scathing in his criticism of Ghana's legal system, telling the BBC he believes "many" members of the judiciary "are doing nothing but tilting the scale of justice in favour of the wrong one". He decided to bring his case against the MP to the US state of New Jersey, where the politician was at the time he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by Anas' journalist's victory earlier this month saw him awarded $18m in damages as the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for figure included $8m in punitive damages."I feel very happy, I think that it's a vindication of what I have always preached. This goes a long way to encourage African journalists across the continent there's a need for us to be resilient. There's a need for us to have a stomach to take the heat," Anas told the that the court has ordered Agyapong to pay damages, the journalist says he is confident the funds will be transferred because his legal team's "due diligence" had assessed the value of property and businesses owned by the MP before bringing the case."I cannot be 100% certain, but I know that my legal team has done some work and they have a plan," he says that, even though his case was won in the US, it should serve as a wake-up call to the rich and powerful that African journalists can and will hold them to account."We also have the capacity to stand toe-to-toe with you. Whilst we are patient, whilst we are honest, our day will definitely come."Additional reporting by Thomas Naadi You may also be interested in: Betraying the Game: African officials filmed taking cashGhana dissolves football association after BBC investigation into corruptionPlayers union welcomes life ban for Gabon football coach over sexual abuse Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana journalist awarded $18m in US after suing ex-MP
A US court awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18m (£14m) in damages, after a jury said he was defamed by former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong. The case stems from comments Agyapong made about Anas after his BBC investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere. The court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a "criminal" and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale Anas lost a similar legal action in Ghana seven years ago. But after the release of the podcast episode in 2021 Anas went to court in the US state of New Jersey where 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 $18m in damages was the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for defamation. The figure included $8m 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," Anas said in response. "No amount of intimidation or falsehood will silence the pursuit of accountability even in the face of assassination. Our work continues, undeterred and unafraid." The journalist, who has won multiple international awards for his reporting, has vowed to continue fighting corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable. Agyapong's lawyers had unsuccessfully argued that the case should not have been brought in the US in the first place. They also said that the comments made on the podcast were the kinds of things other courts had described as hyperbole and opinion and were not subject to a defamation case. Meanwhile, police in Ghana have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Anas' colleague, Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was killed in 2019. The suspect allegedly shared pictures of the undercover journalist with a popular Ghanaian politician before his death. The death of Ahmed was also linked to a football corruption exposé. The investigation sought to expose corruption in African football and was reported by BBC Africa Eye. Betraying the Game: African officials filmed taking cash Ghana dissolves football association after BBC investigation into corruption Players union welcomes life ban for Gabon football coach over sexual abuse Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Anas case against Agyapong: Ghana journalist awarded $18m after suing ex-MP
A US court awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18m (£14m) in damages, after a jury said he was defamed by former Ghanaian MP Kennedy case stems from comments Agyapong made about Anas after his BBC investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a "criminal" and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale Anas lost a similar legal action in Ghana seven years ago. But after the release of the podcast episode in 2021 Anas went to court in the US state of New Jersey where 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 week's initial verdict was confirmed on Tuesday. The $18m in damages was the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for figure included $8m 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," Anas said in response."No amount of intimidation or falsehood will silence the pursuit of accountability even in the face of assassination. Our work continues, undeterred and unafraid." The journalist, who has won multiple international awards for his reporting, has vowed to continue fighting corruption and holding wrongdoers lawyers had unsuccessfully argued that the case should not have been brought in the US in the first place. They also said that the comments made on the podcast were the kinds of things other courts had described as hyperbole and opinion and were not subject to a defamation police in Ghana have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Anas' colleague, Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was killed in suspect allegedly shared pictures of the undercover journalist with a popular Ghanaian politician before his death. The death of Ahmed was also linked to a football corruption exposé. The investigation sought to expose corruption in African football and was reported by BBC Africa Eye. You may also be interested in: Betraying the Game: African officials filmed taking cashGhana dissolves football association after BBC investigation into corruptionPlayers union welcomes life ban for Gabon football coach over sexual abuse Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
