…..”The Arc of Justice – A Triumph for Truth and Accountability”……Anas Aremeyaw Anas
In a landmark ruling, the Superior Court of New Jersey has granted investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas a staggering $18 million in damages following a defamation lawsuit against former Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and social media commentator Frederick Asamoah. The decision marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle over incendiary claims made during a 2021 social media broadcast.
The lawsuit, initiated on May 17, 2022, in Essex County Superior Court, accused Agyapong and Asamoah of disseminating false and harmful allegations during an episode of “The Daddy Fred Show,” a widely viewed online program catering to Ghanaian audiences in the United States. The defamatory statements included accusations that Anas was a criminal, a thief, and implicated in the murder of Ahmed Suale, an undercover journalist who collaborated with Anas on the explosive exposé “Number 12.”
Court documents revealed that Agyapong made several unsubstantiated claims during the broadcast, including assertions that Anas had been convicted of crimes in Ghana, was responsible for Suale’s murder, and had a hand in the deaths of multiple Chinese nationals. These allegations, the court determined, were baseless and damaging to Anas’s reputation.
The judgment, which awarded Anas $18 million in damages, underscores the gravity of the defamatory remarks. However, Agyapong’s legal team has filed for remittitur, seeking a reduction in the awarded amount.
This ruling comes on the heels of a contrasting decision by an Accra High Court in Ghana. On March 15, the court dismissed a GH¢25 million defamation suit filed by Anas against Agyapong. Justice Eric Baah ruled that Anas failed to substantiate claims of defamation, asserting instead that Agyapong’s documentary, “Who Watches the Watchman,” exposed questionable dealings involving Anas and his associates.
In the Ghanaian case, Anas had sought GH¢25 million in damages, arguing that the documentary contained defamatory material. However, the court found no merit in his claims, delivering a significant blow to his legal efforts in Ghana.
The New Jersey ruling, however, offers a stark contrast, delivering a decisive victory for Anas in his quest to defend his reputation. As the legal saga continues, the case serves as a potent reminder of the high stakes involved in defamation disputes and the enduring impact of words in the digital age.
It’s serves them right
They will learn their lessons and others will also learn how to talk