Anas, sued Ken for defamation. Defamation is when someone makes false statements that harm another person's reputation.

Where did the statements happen?

•  The initial defamatory statements were made on an online program called "Daddy Fred's Show."

•  These statements were then repeated in a newspaper called "Amanee newspaper" on March 17, 2022.

Why was Anas able to sue in the USA?

Because the defamatory statements, after being made on the online platform, were published in the USA through the "Amanee newspaper." This publication in the US gave US courts jurisdiction (the legal authority to hear the case).

What was the difference between the Ghana and USA cases?

•  USA: In the United States, the case was decided by a jury of 8 people. The jury unanimously found Ken guilty of defamation.

•  Ghana: There was a separate, previous case related to the same issue in Ghana. In Ghana, a judge, rather than a jury, made the decision.

What mistake did Ken's lawyers make in the US case?

Ken's lawyers tried to use the ruling against Anas in the Ghana case as a defense in the US case. They argued that because a court in Ghana (a judge) ruled against Anas, the statements Ken made must have been true and therefore not defamatory.

Why did that defense fail?

The US jury didn't care about the Ghana ruling. They made their own independent decision based on the evidence presented to them in the US trial. The fact that a judge in Ghana had a different opinion didn't change the US jury's view.

In essence:

Anas won the defamation case in the US because the jury believed Ken made false statements that damaged Anas's reputation. Ken's attempt to use a Ghana court decision to justify his statements in the US case was unsuccessful. The US jury made its own judgment based on US law and the specific evidence presented to them. Therefore because he published it by “Amanee newspaper in New Jessy the US court has jurisdiction over the case.

Credit: Dr Abubakari sidick( Former Radio Univers Manager)