Court Reduces Agyapong’s Defamation Fine from $18M to $500
A Superior Court in Essex County, New Jersey, on May 12, 2025, dramatically reduced a defamation award against former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong from $18 million to just $500. The lawsuit, filed by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in 2022, stemmed from defamatory statements Agyapong made on The Daddy Fred Show, an online platform popular among the Ghanaian diaspora in the US.
Agyapong had accused Anas of being a criminal and a thief, even linking him to the 2019 murder of journalist Ahmed Suale, a member of Anas’ team who was killed after the release of the Number 12 documentary exposing corruption in Ghanaian football. In March 2025, a US jury awarded Anas $18 million, finding Agyapong guilty of malicious defamation. However, Agyapong’s legal team filed a motion for remittitur, arguing the award was excessive.
The trial judge agreed, slashing the penalty to $500 while upholding the defamation ruling. This decision highlights the flexibility of US courts in adjusting jury awards in defamation cases, especially when they’re deemed disproportionate. It also underscores the legal differences between the US and Ghana, where Anas had lost a similar defamation case against Agyapong in 2023.
Anas expressed disappointment over the reduced amount but emphasized that the case was about seeking justice, not financial gain. He reaffirmed his commitment to fighting corruption, stating, “I will continue to name, shame, and jail,” as he moves forward with his investigative work despite the outcome.