A United States court has ordered former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to pay $18 million in damages to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The ruling was delivered by the Essex County Superior Court following Anas' legal action against the former lawmaker in response to comments he made as a guest on a television show.
On September 7, 2021, while appearing on The Daddy Show, hosted by US-based Ghanaian presenter Federick Asamoah, Agyapong accused Anas of being a criminal and a thief.
The former MP also made serious allegations, suggesting that Anas had a role in the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale and was involved in the deaths of Chinese nationals in Ghana.
Anas, renowned for his undercover journalism that exposes corruption, contended that these statements severely damaged his reputation and endangered his life.
The defamation suit was filed in the U.S. after Ghana's Supreme Court, in February 2024, rejected an application for certiorari filed against Mr. Ohene Agyapong.
Anas argued that the accusations were false and damaging to both his career and personal safety.
In his defence, Agyapong claimed that his remarks were made in the context of a heated political dispute and should not have been taken literally.
However, the U.S. court disagreed, ruling in favour of Anas and awarding him a substantial $18 million in damages.
This legal victory underscores the serious consequences of defamation and the protection of an individual's reputation, particularly in the age of global media.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS