U.S. Court Upholds Defamation Verdict Against Kennedy Agyapong but Slashes $18M Award to $500

Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has issued a strong response following a U.S. court ruling that slashed an $18 million defamation award in his favour against Ghanaian politician Kennedy Agyapong to just $500.

The case, which captured public attention both in Ghana and internationally, stemmed from a defamation suit filed by Anas against Agyapong, who had accused the journalist of unethical conduct and criminal behaviour in a series of public statements and media broadcasts. A U.S. jury earlier found Agyapong guilty of maliciously defaming Anas and awarded the investigative journalist $18 million in damages.

However, Kennedy Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur—a legal request to reduce the damages—which was granted by the trial judge. While the judge maintained that Agyapong had defamed Anas, he ruled that the jury’s award was “excessive” and reduced it significantly to $500.

In a statement released and signed by Tiger Eye P.I., Anas emphasized that the legal battle was never about financial compensation but about defending his reputation and the principle of justice.

“As Ghanaians may recall, a couple of weeks ago, an American jury found Kennedy Agyapong guilty of maliciously defaming my character,” Anas wrote. “Following the award, Kennedy Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur… Thus, inherent in his motion, Kennedy Agyapong admitted to having maliciously defamed me.”

He added that despite the drastic reduction of the damages, he remained vindicated as the court upheld the guilty verdict against Agyapong. “It is important to state, as I previously did, that this fight has not been about the money, but rather, a fight for truth and justice.”

Anas further reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption in Ghana, vowing to continue naming, shaming, and jailing wrongdoers. “Not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate,” he noted.

The case has reignited public debate over defamation, press freedom, and accountability in Ghana, particularly in light of the long-standing tension between Anas and Kennedy Agyapong