Anas Defamation: US Court Slashes Awarded Damages from $18 Million to $500

The Essex County Superior Court in the United States has granted Kennedy Agyapong’s motion for remittitur.

The court has reduced the damages from $18 million to $500.

This was confirmed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas in a press statement on May 12, 2025.

“Today, the trial judge granted Kennedy Agyapong’s motion for remittitur and reduced the initial award to $500. This means that, while the judge held that Kennedy Agyapong had defamed me, in his reasoning, the award against Kennedy Agyapong by the jury was excessive.”

In reaction to the development, the investigative journalist held that the fight has not been about the money, but rather, a fight for truth and justice.

“I am happy that not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate.”

Anas says he remains committed to his relentless fight against corruption.

He says he intends to pursue this by naming, shaming, and jailing.

Background
The investigative journalist went to court after Kennedy, in a broadcast, accused him of being a criminal and a thief. He also accused him of murdering Ahmed Suale and several Chinese nationals in Ghana.

These statements were on the back of the airing of the BBC documentary on corruption, “Betraying the Game,” on October 28, 2018.

Anas first went to the Accra High Court but failed to secure a favourable ruling a year ago. His GH¢25 million defamation suit was dismissed by Justice Eric Baah, who went on to label the former a “blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.

He then proceeded to the Essex County Superior Court, where he sought $5 million in presumed damages, $10 million in special damages, $5 million in actual damages, $10 million in punitive damages, and a restraining order against the defendant.

An eight-member jury on March 17 unanimously found Kennedy liable for defamation, awarding damages of 18 million U.S. dollars.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini