Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, better known as Anas, is a Ghanaian investigative journalist born in the late 1970s.[1] His motto is "name, shame and jail.[2] He utilizes his anonymity as a tool in his investigative arsenal; this has made him very popular in West Africa where most of his investigation is based.[2] Very few people have seen his face until an "unmasking" during a BBC interview in November 2015 — and this was a prosthetic.[3][4] Anas is a politically non-aligned multimedia journalist who has specialized in print media and documentaries. He focuses on issues of human rights and anti-corruption in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Anas at Oslo Freedom Forum
Born
Accra, Ghana
EducationChristian Methodist Senior High School
Ghana Institute of Journalism
University of Ghana
Occupation
  • Investigative journalist
  • The Crusading Guide newspaper (1998–present)
  • CEO of Tiger Eye Private Investigations
  • Executive Director of Tiger Eye Social Foundation (2011–present)
Years active1998–present
Notable credit(s)
Al Jazeera, Africa Investigates
Websitewww.anasaremeyawanas.org

In December 2015 Foreign Policy magazine named Anas one of 2015's leading global thinkers,[5] and he has been invited to talk about his work at international conferences. In 2016 Anas had a "Best Journalist" award named after him by the Press Foundation in Ghana.[6]

Early life

Anas is from Bimbilla in Northern Ghana[7] and grew up in Burma Camp, a military barracks in Accra[1] together with his two sisters.[8] After attending Christian Methodist Senior High School in Accra,[9] He attended the Ghana Institute of Journalism. After his degree, he turned down an opportunity to work as a reporter for the Ghanaian Times newspaper, instead choosing to join the Crusading Guide[10] newspaper in 1998, under editor Kweku Baako Jnr.[11]

Notable investigative works
Further information: Investigative works of Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Two of his most recent and influential works are:

Ghana in the Eyes of God. In 2015, Anas's investigation into the judiciary of the republic of Ghana[12] resulted in the removal from office of workers from the third arm of government including 13 high court judges,[13] 20 lower court judges[14] and 19 Judicial Service court registrars and interpreters. Over 100 judicial service staff in total were probed, after being caught on camera taking gifts from undercover Tiger Eye PI investigators to influence court judgements.[15]

Number 12. On the 6th May 2018 Anas released Number 12, so named because corruption was the "12th player on the football team". This exposé implicated almost the entire football administration in Ghana,[16] and resulted in the President of Ghana dismantling the Ghana Football Association. The then Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was also an executive member of Fifa, was caught on camera accepting bribe. All football matches in the country were called off after the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) met on June 8, 2018, and dissolved the Referees Committee, deciding that all officials mentioned in the exposé should step aside.[17]

International referees were also involved, such as Kenyan FIFA referee Marwa Range. He was filmed receiving US$600 before a scheduled match. from This led to Marwa's withdrawal from the 2018 World Cup.[18] A documentary was released by BBC a week before the 2018 FIFA World Cup started.[19] Nigeria's national football team's coach,Salisu Yusuf was also involved in the scandal.[20]

Methods and response

Anas believes drastic measures need to be taken to tackle the level of corruption in Ghana.[21] The National Media Commission of Ghana hold that there’s nothing wrong with Anas method[22] since Ghana law permits undercover journalism.[23]

Anas at the Global Conference for Media Freedom in London in 2019

Personalities (in alphabetical order) who have commented on his work:

  • Abdul-Malik Kwaku Baako - Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako supports the "techniques used by... Anas." He stated that “Anas does undercover journalism, if they don’t know, it is accepted universally. It comes with challenges, ethical as well as moral”.[24]
  • Jerry John Rawlings - In reacting to Anas's critics, former president Rawlings said that "Anas should be hailed and not treated like an outcast". About the backlash from sections of the Ghanaian public concerning Anas's method, Rawlings added that "When we had the chance, we made an outcast of our own allowing our rivals to recognize the true worth and offer him such a sensitive national anti-corruption role. What does that make of us?"[25][26]
  • John Atta Mills - In 2015 it emerged that at least one of Anas's investigations was commissioned by the government of Ghana. Notably, "The President's Assignment"; an exposé from 2012 that unearthed corruption incidences at the Electricity Company of Ghana, was commissioned by the Professor Evans Mills, suggesting that the late president condoned Anas's modus operandi.[27] Earlier in 2011, president Mills reprimanded security agencies during a surprise visit to the Customs Excise and Preventive Service following a corruption exposé involving customs officers, stating that, "I wish that the revelation from Anas could have come to me from the security agencies who work here. There are people who come here throwing their weight around. I have told General Modey that anyone who comes here in the President's name, the first thing you should do is to arrest them. I am not going to be party to anything which will destroy what we are building in this country".[28]
  • Kofi Annan - Appearing in a promotional video leading to the public premiering of the Ghana Football Association cash gift scandal, the former United Nations secretary general said that “Sometimes it takes a spark, just a spark and I think Anas has provided that spark for the whole edifice to blow up for people to wake up and say: ‘No more’”.[29]
  • Kennedy Agyapong - According to the Assin Central MP, who has repeatedly threatened Anas, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders[30] he stated that Anas's methods were 'unfair'. Following these and other allegations Anas responded "I've never in my life taken a bribe.... Nowhere! Whoever has a proof should bring it. It will crash. I know myself and I believe in myself. I know I’ve never taken bribe from anywhere... Some people are just blowing hot air”[31] He also called for "retribution" against Anas' collaborator, Ahmed Hussein-Suale, saying "If he comes here, beat him... Whatever happens, I'll pay." Hussein-Suale was subsequently assassinated.[32][33]
  • Mahamudu Bawumia - In defending the methodology of Anas, vice president of Ghana Dr. Bawumia said that "what Anas is doing is very relevant...people should know that what they do in the dark can be exposed...Really, I will encourage him to do what he does".[34]

Other works

From October to December 2016, Anas ventured outside of the world of investigative journalism as an advocate for peace in his "Anas4Peace" multimedia campaign.[35] These films, jingles and interactive social media posts brought together 22 non-aligned Ghanaian celebrities to advocate for peace during the election period.[36] The #IAmAnas movement celebrating Anas's anonymity has also attracted media attention.[37][38] In October 2018, Anas launched an online platform for members of the public to upload videos reporting corruption.[39]

Awards and recognition
Name of Award given to Anas Aremeyaw Anas Granting body Country
2020
Anti-Corruption Star Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Ghana
2018
Excellent in Print Journalism 2016[40] Rajasthan Patrika Group India
2017
The Ghana Shippers Awards 2017[41] Ghana Shippers Awards Ghana
Exceptional Journalist[42] GUBA Awards UK
The Brave Award[43] Allianz Awards 2017 Ghana
2016
Most Influential Investigative Journalist Award The Press Foundation Ghana
Journalist of the Year 2016[44] Ghana Journalists Association Ghana
Honorary Award for Excellence in Journalism[45] 4th Annual African Youth Excellence Awards USA
Key to the city of Worcester, Massachusetts by the Mayor.[46] City of Worcester USA
Most Influential Young Ghanaian, 2016[47] Avance Media Ghana
Africa Together 2016[48] African Society of Cambridge University United Kingdom
THE CITIZEN GHANA AWARD[49] EMY Africa Ghana
African Hero 2015-2016[50] Ohio University USA
2015
100 Most Influentian Young Africans New African
Ghana's Most Influential 2015[51] etv Ghana
Prize for Democratic Governance 2015[52] Millennium Excellence Award Ghana
Emerging Man of The Year 2015[53] Emerging Man of The Year Viasat1 Ghana
Gold Award- (Komela Dumor Award for journalism and Advocacy)[54] ExLA Awards Ghana
Africa Peace Icon Award 2015[55] Accord South Africa
2014
Investigative Journalist of the Year[56] CIMG AWARD Ghana
CMIG President's Special award[57] CIMG AWARD Ghana
Ghana's Most Influential 2014[58] etv Ghana Ghana
Engaged Journalism Award 2014[59] May Chidiac Foundation Lebanon
2013
Ghana's Most Influential 2013[60] ETV Ghana Ghana
African Achievers Awards 2013[61] African Achievers Awards Kenya
2012
Annual Percy Qoboza Award[62] National Association of Black Journalists USA
Children's Rights Award One World Media Award UK
Media Excellence National Youth Achievers Awards 2012 Ghana
Best Environmental Feature[63] Diageo UK
2011
Bastion of Excellence in Investigative Journalism[64] Ghana Journalists’ Association Ghana
Ghana's Most Influential 2011[65] ETV Ghana Ghana
The Lorenzo Natali Award[66] European Union Journalism Prize for Development, Democracy and Human Rights Ghana
KCK International Award for Excellence in Print Journalism[67] Patrika Group
Vocational Service Award Rotary Club of Accra Ghana
2010
2010 Excellence in Media Award : Community Reporting[68] Global Health Council Ghana
African Investigative Journalism Award FAIR/IJC Awards South Africa
Northern journalists Award Flip Africa Ghana
Anti-Corruption Reporting Award The Ghanaian Journalist Association Ghana
2009
The Lorenzo Natali Prize[69] European Union Journalism Prize for Development, Democracy and Human Rights Ghana
Nominee[70] Martin Luther King Award United States
Written Journalisim[71] Nobert Zongo Prize for Investigative Reporting Ghana
Investigative Journalism[72] The Segbo Excellence Ghana
2008
Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award 2008[73] The US Department of State Washington DC United States
Best Investigative Reporter[74] Ghana Journalists Association Ghana
International journalisim : Local Reporter[75] The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund UK
Every Human Has Rights Media Award[76] Every Human Has Rights Award and Internews, The Elders. France
2007
International Award for Excellence in Journalism International Catholic Union of the Press Switzerland
Global Shining Light Awards[77] Global Investigative Journalist Conference Canada
2006
Best Investigative Reporter[78] Ghana Journalists Association Ghana
Journalist of the Year[79] Ghana Journalists Association Ghana
2005
Best Investigative Reporting[80] Ghana Journalists Association Ghana
The Perfector of Sentiments Award[80] Ministry of Manpower, POS Foundation Ghana
2004
Excellence in Journalism[81] Catholic Union of the Press Switzerland
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gollark: I can't find any information agreeing with palaiaoalagoasogasigoss on this.
gollark: *Some* of the ordinary flu viruses are coronaviruses.
gollark: Well, you know what they say about the infinite monkeys.
gollark: Is having your data and/or soul harvested a BAD thing?

See also

References
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  7. OsloFreedomForum (2017-08-08), ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS | NAME, SHAME, AND JAIL | 2017, retrieved 2018-06-16
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