Ghana's Anti-corruption Hero: Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Sometimes just one person trying to do the right
thing can change the course of history.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Ghana is an undercover
investigative journalist with a focus on exposing
corruption, exploitation and human rights abuses.
Last month his work changed the course of
Ghanaian history when he released an anti-
corruption film called Ghana in the Eyes of God,
Epic of Injustice.

“The most powerful weapon against corruption is
transparency and exposure,” says Anas, who was
born in the late 1970s and first trained as a
lawyer. He says the aim of his life’s work is to
“name, shame and jail” people who hurt others
and break the law.
Released in late September, Anas’ new three-hour
documentary has led to the shocking suspension
of seven of Ghana’s 12 High Court judges and 22
lower court judges who were secretly filmed in an
alleged judicial bribery and corruption scandal
which Anas investigated for about two years.
Money, sex, yams and even a goat were among
the alleged pay-offs. In exchange, many robbers,
murderers, drug dealers, rapists and others
allegedly received shortened sentences or went
free.
Anas notably works undercover, usually wearing
disguises and pretending to engage with “bad
people” who he then tries to film committing
crimes.
People rarely see his face. Even when he gives
public talks about his work or receives awards, he
hides it.
Could corruption charges against these judicial
officials be true?
Ghanaians are now waiting for rule of law to take
its course -- for all parties concerned. What
seems to have come to light through Anas’ brave
undercover work is 500 hours of raw footage of
judicial corruption in action, allegedly involving
some 180 judicial officials – judges, magistrates,
court clerks, policemen, state attorneys and bail
contractors!
In trying to block the screening of Anas’ whistle-
blowing film, one High Court judge ironically
argued that showing the film “brings the authority
and administration of the law into disrespect and
disrepute…”
Each of the seven implicated high court judges
has been give a week between now and 11
December to appear before a special Chief Justice
Committee. Anas will also appear for cross-
examination, and some defendants have
demanded that he remove his disguise when in
court.
The five-member Committee has contended
this week that Anas is protected by the Whistle
Blower’s Act. As such, he must not be unmasked
and is also covered by immunity.
While not his first choice, Anas says he believes
working in disguise is necessary, given the
powerful and sometimes dangerous subjects of
his investigations.
Acknowledging his own fear and the hazards of
doing the work he does, Anas advises, “You’ve
got to take intelligent decisions… If you don’t, you
will end up losing your life.” (He usually works
with a backup team of private investigators).
Notwithstanding the risks, Anas says he and all
professional journalists have the responsibility to
keep the public informed about activities affecting
the health of their democracies, and their own
personal lives. Colleagues say his work is driven
by the belief that it is corruption that is holding
Africa back.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas, I salute you.
Culled from Strive Masiyiwa's
Let’s play by a different (ethical) set of rules
(Part 14)