A United States Court has significantly reduced the $18 million defamation damages awarded against Ghanaian politician and former Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, to just $500.
The Superior Court of New Jersey awarded investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against the former MP, and one Frederick Asamoah, a social media commentator.
The judgment came after a lengthy legal battle stemming from alleged defamatory statements made by the defendants during a 2021 interview broadcast on social media.
A press statement issued on Monday, May 12, by Anas’ Tigereyepi confirmed that while the jury’s verdict stood, the trial judge has since granted a motion for remittitur—a legal request to reduce damages—and accordingly reduced the awarded amount to $500.
The plaintiff contends that the court’s ruling upholds the finding of defamation, albeit with a significantly lower financial penalty.
“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 $18 million was awarded in my favour,” the statement read.
“Kennedy Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur… inherent in his motion, Kennedy Agyapong admitted to having maliciously defamed me.”
The judge’s decision to reduce the award, according to the plaintiff, was based not on a reversal of the defamation finding, but rather on a view that the original sum awarded by the jury was “excessive.”
The plaintiff expressed satisfaction with the ruling’s affirmation of the defamatory nature of Mr Agyapong’s actions, emphasising that the case was never about financial compensation but about the pursuit of truth and justice.
“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.”
The individual also noted that none of the allegations made by Mr Agyapong were proven in court, despite the opportunity to do so.
“I am happy that not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate.”
The plaintiff reaffirmed a commitment to the ongoing fight against corruption, pledging to continue to “name, shame, and jail” those who undermine public trust.
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