A U.S. court has confirmed that Ghanaian politician Kennedy Agyapong maliciously defamed investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Although a jury initially awarded Anas $18 million in damages at the Essex County Superior Court, the presiding judge has reduced the amount to $500, deeming the original sum excessive.
In response, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, through his investigative outfit Tiger Eye PI, emphasized that the victory lies in the court’s judgment, not the monetary award.
He noted that Mr Agyapong, by filing a motion for remittitur, effectively accepted the jury’s finding of defamation.
Anas welcomed the court’s confirmation that none of Mr Agyapong’s allegations against him were proven, reaffirming his commitment to the fight against corruption.
“This fight has never been about money, but about truth and justice,” a press statement dated May 11, 2025, stated.
READ FULL STATEMENT BY TIGER EYE HERE
Copy of the Tiger Eye statement
11 May 2025 | PRESS RELEASE
OUR VICTORY IS IN THE JUDGEMENT AND NOT THE AWARD
As Ghanaians may recall, a couple of weeks ago, an American jury found Kennedy Agyapong guilty of maliciously defaming my character.
Consequent to the finding by the jury, an amount of $18M was awarded in my favour against Kennedy Agyapong.
Following the award, Kennedy Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur, asking the judge to reduce the amount awarded against him. Thus, inherent in his motion, Kennedy Agyapong admitted to having maliciously defamed me.
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.
Many avenues of redemption accrue to me. But, 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.
I am happy that not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate.
I will continue in my relentless fight against corruption – and in doing that, continue to name, shame, and jail
Signed
Tiger Eye PI
Background
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Anas in a United States court over a series of defamatory statements made by Kennedy Agyapong.
The Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, where the case was heard, ruled in Anas’s favor after an eight-member jury delivered a unanimous verdict. Agyapong was initially ordered to pay $18 million in damages—including $8 million in punitive damages—before the amount was later reduced by the judge.
Related
US Court awards Anas Aremeyaw $18m in defamation suit against Kennedy Agyapong
