This is what the US Court’s ruling means for the embattled MP Kennedy Agyapong following the Anas Aremeyaw Anas victory in the defamation suit
On March 18, 2025, an Essex County Superior Court jury in New Jersey reportedly awarded Anas $18 million in damages after finding Kennedy Agyapong liable for defamation.
This stemmed from statements Agyapong made, including on a 2021 podcast, accusing Anas of criminal acts like orchestrating the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale and engaging in corruption—claims the jury deemed false and malicious. The award includes $8 million in punitive damages, signaling the court’s intent to punish and deter such conduct.
Immediate Implications for Kennedy Agyapong after the Ruling in Favour of Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Financial Burden: If enforced, $18 million is a hefty sum, even for someone of Agyapong’s reputed wealth (estimated between $120 million and $400 million). Public records show he owns at least three properties in New Jersey worth over $1.8 million, which Anas’s legal team could target via liens or foreclosure.
However, this covers only a fraction of the judgment, and his Ghana-based assets (like 147 properties he’s claimed to own) are outside U.S. jurisdiction unless Anas pursues enforcement there—a complex, uncertain process under Ghanaian law.
Legal Options for Kennedy Agyapong
Agyapong’s team has already moved for a mistrial and sought to reduce the damages, arguing the award is excessive. As of now, the case isn’t fully concluded—some sources, including his Ghanaian lawyer Kwaku Amoh Darteh, claim no final judgment has been entered pending the judge’s ruling on this motion (due within 30 days from March 19). If the mistrial fails, he could appeal, potentially dragging this out for months or years. Non-payment is an option, but it risks asset seizure if he enters the U.S.
In Ghana, where Agyapong’s brash persona has long fueled his political and media influence, this loss could dent his credibility, especially after he lost a similar defamation case to Anas in Ghana in 2023 only to see it overturned here. Social media reactions on X (e.g., from @GhanaTrendsInc and @vimbuzzgh) show a mix of mockery and debate, amplifying the public hit. Yet his loyal base might see it as a foreign attack on a local icon.
Broader Impact
U.S. Presence: Agyapong can still travel to the U.S.—civil judgments don’t bar entry—but any visit risks asset grabs if he doesn’t settle. This could limit his business dealings there, where he’s tied to real estate and possibly other ventures from his Fordham University days.
The Ghanaian Context: Anas vrs Kennedy Agyapong
The ruling contrasts sharply with Ghana’s judicial outcomes, where Anas lost to Agyapong in 2023, with the court labeling his work “investigative terrorism.” Supreme Court Justice Kulendi later called that ruling a “violent abuse of judicial authority,” but it highlights systemic differences Anas leveraged by going to the U.S. For Agyapong, it’s a warning that his rhetoric faces sterner tests abroad.
Press Freedom Signal: Anas frames this as a win for journalists, and the punitive damages back that up. For Agyapong, it’s a costly lesson that unchecked attacks on media figures can backfire where legal systems prioritize evidence over influence.
Uncertainties following contradictory reportage of Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Kennedy Agyapong Court Ruling
The exact status as of today—March 21, 2025—remains murky. Conflicting reports (e.g., BBC and CitiNewsroom confirm the verdict, while 3news.com cites Agyapong’s lawyer saying it’s not final) suggest the $18 million isn’t yet locked in. If the mistrial succeeds or damages are slashed, the impact shrinks. If not, Agyapong’s next move—pay, appeal, or evade—will shape the fallout.
For your GhanaTrends.com audience, this could tie into trending Ghanaian stories like post-election tensions or media battles. Agyapong’s defiance (or silence—he’s been notably calm, per his lawyer) might even spark a fresh viral narrative. What angle are you leaning toward for your video—legal, financial, or cultural? That could guide how you frame this for your viewers.
