HARARE – Econet Wireless boss, Strive Masiyiwa has saluted Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a Ghanaian ‘undercover investigative journalist’ for dilige...
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HARARE – Econet Wireless boss, Strive Masiyiwa has saluted Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a Ghanaian ‘undercover investigative journalist’ for diligently exposing corruption and human rights abuse.
Words by Derick Matsengarwodzi: media consultant,
author and founder of Aloe Media Group. Let us interact through: Facebook;
Email: derickmats@gmail.com; Twitter: @TinzweiDerick or Blog: http://tinzwei.blogspot.com.
The
pseudonym character recently unleashed an anti-corruption film entitled Ghana
in the Eyes of God, Epic of Injustice – a documentary that will transform the Ghanaian
judiciary.
Initially,
he qualified as a lawyer before embarking on journalism.
Name, shame and jail
“The most
powerful weapon against corruption is transparency and exposure.” The aim of
his life’s work is to “name, shame and jail” people who hurt others and break the
law.
“The 2015 three-hour
documentary resulted in the 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,” revealed the anticorruption champion.
Anas work
under disguise and pretend 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. Many have queried if corruption
charges against these judicial officials are true.
Waiting for justice
“Ghanaians
are now waiting for rule of law to take its course,” Masiyiwa adds, “What comes
to light through Anas’ brave undercover work is raw footage of judicial
corruption in action, allegedly involving some 180 judicial officials – judges,
magistrates, court clerks, policemen, state attorneys and bail contractors.”
Anas disclosure
has sent shivers within the judiciary system, with one judge arguing that the
revelation “brings the authority and administration of the law into disrespect
and disrepute…” However, each of the seven implicated high court judges has
been given time to appear before a special Chief Justice Committee.
Anas will
also appear for cross-examination. Other defendants have demanded that he
remove his disguise in court, however he is protected by the Whistle Blower’s
Act and immunity – as such, he must not be unmasked.
While not
his first choice, Anas says he believes working in disguise is necessary, given
the powerful and sometimes dangerous subjects of his investigations.
True journalists please stand
Journalism
ethics always demands a reporter to reveal his identify when approaching a
subject. So, can Anas operation be classified as journalism or citizen policing,
The Aloe News asks?
Acknowledging
his 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.”
Masiyiwa notes,
“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. His work is driven
by the belief that corruption is holding Africa back.”
– The Aloe News
• This text cannot be reproduced without prior consultation with the
author.
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