Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has hailed the New Jersey court’s ruling, which awarded investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against former MP Kennedy Agyapong and social media commentator Frederick Asamoah.
Speaking on Kasapa FM’s Ghana Kasa morning show with Akua Sonto, Kpebu described the verdict as a significant win not only for Anas but for the media industry as a whole. He believes the ruling will encourage Anas in his work, especially after a Ghanaian court had previously ruled against him in the same case.
He emphasized that the decision serves as a form of justice for journalists, stating, “Now, there will be justice for the media because Anas himself is a journalist.” Kpebu also suggested that the Ghanaian court may have ruled differently due to other legal matters Anas was involved in at the time.
Addressing concerns about political influence in high-profile court cases, Kpebu acknowledged that politics plays a role in judicial appointments. He pointed out that since the president has the power to appoint judges to key courts, such influences can impact judicial outcomes, which could explain the contrasting rulings in Ghana and the U.S.
