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How BBC reported Anas defamation suit victory over Ken Agyapong

The case stems from comments Agyapong made about Anas after his BBC investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere.

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 lost a similar legal action in Ghana seven years ago. But after the release of the podcast episode in 2021 Anas went to court in the US state of New Jersey where Agyapong has a property.

The politician was in New Jersey when he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by his lawyers.

Last week’s initial verdict was confirmed on Tuesday. The $18m in damages was 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.

“Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption and wrongdoing,” Anas said in response.

“No amount of intimidation or falsehood will silence the pursuit of accountability even in the face of assassination. Our work continues, undeterred and unafraid.”

The journalist, who has won multiple international awards for his reporting, has vowed to continue fighting corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable.

Agyapong’s lawyers had unsuccessfully argued that the case should not have been brought in the US in the first place. They also said that the comments made on the podcast were the kinds of things other courts had described as hyperbole and opinion and were not subject to a defamation case.

Meanwhile, police in Ghana have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Anas’ colleague, Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was killed in 2019.

The suspect allegedly shared pictures of the undercover journalist with a popular Ghanaian politician before his death.

The death of Ahmed was also linked to a football corruption exposé.

The investigation sought to expose corruption in African football and was reported by BBC Africa Eye.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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