Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, has addressed recent misconceptions regarding the $500 defamation award issued by a New Jersey court, clarifying that it does not represent a reduction of an $18 million judgment as widely reported.
Speaking to Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Monday, May 12, Kwarteng explained that the $500 figure was the result of a legal motion filed by Agyapong’s legal team, and not a revised amount of a previously finalized $18 million judgment. He emphasized that no such $18 million judgment had ever been made in the first place.
“This $500 award is not a reduction of any previous judgment,” Kwarteng said. “There was no $18 million judgment to begin with. The $500 is a result of a motion filed by Agyapong’s lawyer to have the jury’s award moved or reviewed, which is more accurately described as a legal review.”
Kwarteng’s clarification follows a decision by the Superior Court of Essex County, New Jersey, which recently adjusted the damages in the defamation case brought against Agyapong by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The case stemmed from comments made by Agyapong on The Daddy Fred Show in 2022, where he accused Anas of criminal activity, including implicating him in the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale.
Earlier this year, a U.S. jury ruled in favor of Anas, finding Agyapong liable for defamation and initially awarding $18 million in damages. However, Agyapong’s legal team filed a motion for remittitur, arguing that the amount was excessive. The trial judge, while affirming the defamation ruling, reduced the damages to $500, citing the original figure as “unreasonably high.”
Kwarteng took the opportunity to correct the public’s understanding, clarifying that the $500 award was not a slashing of an earlier judgment but the result of a judicial review of the jury’s award, which had not yet been finalized by the court.
Meanwhile, Anas Aremeyaw Anas expressed disappointment over the reduced amount but reiterated that his primary objective in filing the suit was not financial compensation. Instead, he emphasized his commitment to defending his reputation, which he said had been tarnished by Agyapong’s defamatory remarks.
The case has highlighted the ongoing legal and reputational battles between the two figures, with Anas reaffirming that the pursuit of justice was his foremost priority throughout the proceedings.
