Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has assured his supporters that he remains steadfast despite a US court ordering him to pay $18 million in damages to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas for defamation.

Speaking at his campaign office in Shiashie upon his return to Ghana on March 27, Agyapong expressed gratitude for the warm reception he and his wife received.

“I want to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you for the wonderful welcome you have given me and my wife. This will inspire me to continue doing what I do—speaking for the voiceless,” he stated.

He urged his followers not to be troubled by the court’s decision, insisting that challenges come with standing up for the truth.

“Nobody should worry. Anyone who speaks the truth and stands for the voiceless will face challenges. But through this ordeal, I have become a better person, and I will continue to fight and defend the truth,” Agyapong assured.

Background

Anas secured a legal victory in the United States, with an Essex County jury awarding him $18 million in a defamation lawsuit against former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.

Legal scholar and political analyst Professor Kwaku Azar shared the news on Facebook, noting that Agyapong has already filed for a remittitur, a request for the court to reduce the damages awarded.

This ruling marks a sharp contrast to a 2023 decision in Ghana, where an Accra High Court dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by Anas.

Presided over by Justice Eric Baah, the court acknowledged that Agyapong’s statements could be defamatory but ruled that Anas failed to prove his claims.

The case stems from May 29, 2018, when Agyapong launched a scathing attack on Anas during a live interview on Adom TV, labeling him “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.”

The MP also released materials aimed at discrediting the journalist, following Anas’ corruption exposés.

Anas, through his lawyers, initially sought GH¢25 million in aggravated damages in Ghana, but his case was dismissed.