An investigative journalist who won an $18m (£14m) defamation case against a Ghanaian MP says that, although he is hopeful he will receive the money, what is more rewarding is the message his victory sends.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas began legal action against Kennedy Agyapong after the MP labelled him a “criminal” following his investigation into football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere.
He initially brought the case in Ghana, and lost, but then took it to the US, where Agyapong owns property, and won.
“The bigger impact for me is not the money but the fact that young journalists are encouraged [to hold the powerful to account] no matter how big you are [as] a politician”, Anas told the BBC.
The court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a “criminal” and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale.
Anas told the BBC he was still grieving Suale and that, despite the recent arrest of one suspect, he believes there are other culprits still at large.
“From time to time I go to where Ahmed was shot, and I go to have my own quiet time. I go to his grave.
“It encourages me. When Ahmed was alive he asked me one day: ‘Boss, I want [to] assure you [that] one day if you should die, I would continue with the good work that you do’. I didn’t know it was going to be the reverse because, all along… I was the one who was the target.”
Anas has been scathing in his criticism of Ghana’s legal system, telling the BBC he believes “many” members of the judiciary “are doing nothing but tilting the scale of justice in favour of the wrong one”.
He decided to bring his case against the MP to the US state of New Jersey, where the politician was at the time he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by Anas’ lawyers.
The journalist’s victory earlier this month saw him awarded $18m in damages as the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for defamation.
The figure included $8m in punitive damages.
“I feel very happy, I think that it’s a vindication of what I have always preached. This goes a long way to encourage African journalists across the continent there’s a need for us to be resilient. There’s a need for us to have a stomach to take the heat,” Anas told the BBC.
Now that the court has ordered Agyapong to pay damages, the journalist says he is confident the funds will be transferred because his legal team’s “due diligence” had assessed the value of property and businesses owned by the MP before bringing the case.
“I cannot be 100% certain, but I know that my legal team has done some work and they have a plan,” he adds.
Anas says that, even though his case was won in the US, it should serve as a wake-up call to the rich and powerful that African journalists can and will hold them to account.
“We also have the capacity to stand toe-to-toe with you. Whilst we are patient, whilst we are honest, our day will definitely come.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Naadi
