SIAKON MEDIA

OUR EDITOR INTERVIEWS ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS

Saturday April 17, 2010
By Merari Alomele

� Anas as a little child

CRUSADING Guide�s celebrated spymaster, the
James Bond of Ghana journalism, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has told The Spectator that his next case is a total bombshell that would rock the very foundation of the Republic of Ghana.

He said this when answering a question from this writer as to which of the cases dealt with so far is considered the most sensational.

�The Madhouse case in a good one, but what is coming next is just too explosive for comfort.

It cannot be contained,� he said in reply.

Anas will as usual not divulge what it is all about, not even giving a hint from which angle the bombshell will be hurled and the trajectory thereof.

�It is more sensational than any of the cases I�ve dealt with so far, and when it detonates, you�ll really see it for yourself,� he added.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas walked into the office of the editor THE SPECTATOR last week Friday looking like an innocent foreign student in a Ghanaian university, with a fancy hat over his head. He had agreed to avail of himself for this interview.

SPEC: You have taken very great risks in life so far, trying to unravel mysteries and busting crime.

In some cases, you nearly lost your life. You have taken drugs made for madmen and several psycho-therapeutic injections just to serve a cause. I�m tempted to say you are suicidal.

ANAS (laughing): I�m not suicidal at all. I had to do some of these things because if I didn�t, there was no way I was going to provide proof of evidence.

At any rate, I�m very careful, always making sure it doesn�t go awry. So every case is planned with a sort of backup so that dire situations can be remedied if need be.

SPEC: Who mooted this idea of going underground to investigate cases? Is it you or your boss, Kweku Baako?

ANAS: It is society that mooted it. We are in a society where everything you say you�re told to bring the proof. Even presidents are asking for proof if you talk about corruption.

If you say today for instance that bad things are happening in the prisons, they tell you to prove it.

Even if you have audio tape, the person whose voice it is will say it is not his voice. So what do you do? You have to go audio-visual to prove a case.

So the scepticism displayed by society in criminal matters requires that there must be audio-visual proof, so I have to go that extra mile to provide it.

SPEC: Which investigative story was your very first?

ANAS: The first was in 1999 when I exposed some policemen who were regularly demanding protection money from traders and hawkers. I did the story while hawking �Nkatie Burger� (packaged groundnuts) on the streets.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas is a nephew of Dr Ibn Chambas. In 1998, he obtained a Diploma in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and a degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He also has a degree in law - (LLB).

He did his internship with the Crusading Guide newspaper where he felt he was a trifle under-used, so he decided to get stories on his own. The first investigative story was mind-blowing but the story was buried in the centre pages of the paper.

By some luck, the newspaper review panels of some radio stations noticed the story and aired it, discussing it in some detail. Anas was born.

SPEC: What has been the secret behind your phenomenal success?

ANAS: It is careful thinking and planning. We don�t hasten to investigate issues. And for any issue I want to investigate, I have at least two or three game plans.
SPEC: Are you mathematical?

ANAS: I wouldn�t say I�m very mathematical because some mates used to beat me in the Additional Maths class in school. What I can say is that I�m a damn good strategist. I know how to strategise and that is my top card.

SPEC: If you hadn�t ended up in the profession of journalism in which vocation or profession would you have been?

ANAS: May be in the security services or as a lawyer or consulting advocate.

Anas is born to Anas Mahama and Madam Mariama Damba. His father doesn�t mind his adventurous son doing what he knows best � that is risking his life to investigate issues of national concern.

His mother is, however, a bit apprehensive about unforeseen dangers, and whenever she has the opportunity, she offers some lap talk.

SPEC: You must be aware of the risks, inherent in your kind of job.

ANAS: Certainly the risks are there, but the job must be done. Even a woman once came into my office to tell me plainly that her son says he�d kill me if I used a story. I went ahead and used the story. If everybody is afraid of risks, then this nation will never move forward. There are many wrong things going on that must be stopped at great risks, but the risks are worth the efforts and results.

SPEC: Which has been the riskiest so far for you?

ANAS: The Madhouse case of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital was quite risky, especially the first five days when I was totally disorientated because I had to take those drugs and injections.

I had to get discharged for a while to recover before going back to continue with the investigations.

And the Bole affair where I had to escape from rebel territory was equally risky.

In that incident, guns were cocked and pointed at me when I was behind a motor-bike on a fast escape route. I had to dive into a river.

SPEC: You survived it-eh.

ANAS: That�s why you see me here today talking to you! But the riskiest by far was when I doubled as a Catholic priest and travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, managed to beat the security and went into a prison to listen to Ghanaian convicts and their plight.

If I had been found out, I�d have been in jail forever.

SPEC: The security guys didn�t suspect anything?

ANAS: Nothing. But talking about risks, I�m again reminded of the case in which I posed as a crown prince called Prince Abu Talip and managed to invade the territory of peace-keepers.

Unfortunately for me, one of them was my former classmate and started shouting �V-mate! V-mate!� and the rebels started looking at me. My cover was blown but we managed to beat the checkpoint as we started to escape.

But the information had already leaked and a manhunt was organised immediately to arrest us.

We had to bribe our way through with drinks at a checkpoint where the officer�s communicating equipment was faulty and he couldn�t get the relay immediately that we were infiltrators.

At the last checkpoint I ordered the motor-bike man to lower the engine and spurt forward suddenly and we dived into the river and swam to obtain cover from our men on the other side.

SPEC: You must be living a very boring and solitary life the way I figure it. Do you feel lonely having to live perpetually in some form of disguise or another?

ANAS: Sometimes I feel lonely, but not very lonely, because I�m always thinking of what else I can crack.

I show up at funerals of people I know for at least 10 minutes and leave; something that shouldn�t be, but I�m always on the move.

SPEC: Are you happy with this kind of job? Are you fulfilled?

ANAS: As far as doing investigate work is concerned, I think I�m fulfilled.

SPEC: I hear you are very rich.

ANAS: I�m not. I live normally like any ordinary folk.

SPEC: When are you going to get married?

ANAS: Soon, but it all has to do with planning.

SPEC: Will it be a public ceremony and if so will you wear a mask?

ANAS (laughing): When we get to the river, we�ll know how to cross it.

SPEC: Are you religious?
ANAS: Very religious. I�m a Muslim.
SPEC: Has religion spurred you on in this kind of job?

ANAS: Yes, when for instance I have to deal with a fellow Muslim and he swears by the Koran, I can trust his word for it. The Koran builds faith and trust among people and what I do needs a lot of trust and loyalty.

SPEC: Finally, I hear you�re a playboy.

ANAS: I have never been. All through school and GIJ my friends will tell you I�m not like that.

SPEC: But in some of your escapades, you befriended girls, easily rapping your way through a relationship just like James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me.

ANAS: Sometimes I had to do it, like in the Chinese prostitution case, when I befriended their housekeeper. I can recall that in the Nkroful Agricultural School case, I befriended a student girl; that was some fun.

I needed only a small bar of chocolate a day to keep the relationship going. In that school I was called Kaka Shadrac and I was always punished by the seniors for staying out late.

SPEC: Were you intimate with that girl?

ANAS: No, she wasn�t even 16; just a small girl.

SPEC: Were you tempted, may be once?

ANAS (laughing): Oh, no no!

Anas Aremeyaw Anas has since 1998 supported the Ghana Police in busting crime. He was commended by American President Barack Obama during his visit to Ghana and has been interviewed on BBC.

Some of his best-known cases include the Chinese Sex Mafia, Imam�s School of Shock, Soldier Bar Prostitution Case, the Massage Parlour Scandal, the Madhouse Case, the Bangkok Prison Drama and lately In the Interest of the State, a case on high-profile smuggling.

Source: The Spectator

Sunday, July 04, 2010

HOLD A-G AND POLICE RESPONSIBLE

The case was the result of the untiring and enterprising escapades of the ace investigative and award winning journalist of the New Crusading Guide, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The judge stands absolved from any blame as she was only upholding the canons of natural justice when she upheld the submission of the counsel of the accused persons who had invoked Section 166(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ghana (ACT 30).

Article 166(1) stipulates, "When the accused comes before the Court on summons or warrant, or otherwise, either originally or on adjournment, then if the prosecutor, having had notice of time and place appointed for the hearing or adjourned hearing of the charge, does not appear, the Court shall dismiss the charge, unless for some reason it thinks it proper to adjourn or further adjourn the hearing the case until some other date, upon such terms as shall think fit."

In plain language, the provision is saying that if the prosecutor is absent without prior notice the Court can dismiss the case, period.

That the manner in which both the Attorney-General (A-G) Department and the Police has handled the case is most reprehensible is an indisputable fact, and the dismissal of the case by the Court is an overwhelming vindication of this assertion.

According to media reports the case had been adjourned on three occasions by the Court at the instance of the prosecution to enable it complete investigations into the matter, and also awaiting further advice from the A-G Department which is in possession of the docket.

Considering the government's avowed war on corruption and the magnitude of revenue loss through cocoa smuggling coupled with the difficulties, risk and challenges that Anas and his team went through to unearth the story, little did anybody think that the Police and the A-G will adopt this lousy and indifferent approach in the handling of the case.

Article 162(5) of the Fourth Republican Constitution enjoins the mass media to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government, which includes the State agencies, to the people of Ghana.

Thus, if the media is discharging its constitutional mandate of fighting corruption and other statutory institutions such as the Police and the A-G Department choose to be sloppy in the discharge of their complementary roles leading to lapses in the administration of justice then the entire nation loses and Ghanaians must hold the two intuitions responsible for their acts of omission and commission.

Although we acknowledged the fact, that the discharge of accused persons on the grounds of want of prosecution is not a closure to a case, what has happened has a dealt a deadly blow to investigative journalism relative to corruption and could disarm and dissuade the not-too-strong- willed journalist.

But we urge the members of the media fraternity, particularly the likes of Anas, who are committed to fighting corruption not to be perturbed in the least but to resolve to "soldier on for God and country" till the canker is reduced to tolerable limits.

Author: from the Editor/Public Agenda 

Anas fever grabs CEOs

Apart from rumours prevailing that some bribe-taking policemen have become morbidly terrified of encountering Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the course of duty, there is also cause to believe that some Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and their administrative underlings have started living under the fear of exposure by the sensational grandmaster of spy-journalism.

Following Spectator's recent revelation that the next exposure by the New Crusading Guide's investigative journalist will be an explosion that cannot be contained, some organisations and establishments, both public and private, are said to be on a permanent red alert and have suspended the recruitment of cleaners, gardeners and other menial workers, for fear that one of them might be the elusive Anas.

Others are reportedly putting their houses in order and giving strict orders concerning strange figures that nose around or try to enquire from staff about lapses and improper conduct of middle and high-ranking officials. Doubtlessly, Anas is making people very busy, as if a terrorist is just about to strike.

The problem is surely one that nags the mind because of the legendary status Anas has earned, and the rumours that he can even change his height dramatically and the way he looks in such a way that even his own mother cannot recognise him. Such a maverick can only be regarded as a mystery figure with the potential of causing an upset that can only be detected long after harm has been done, of course to those who do the wrong things.

Spectator newshounds and troubleshooters have been a bit adventurous lately to ascertain the extent the "Anas mystique" has affected people of all walks of life, especially those who are in responsible positions like chief executives, district and metropolitan chief executives, heads of departments and middle-level employers, some of whom have considerable influence in their workplaces.

The feed-back is that Anas is regarded as a crusader for right causes and doesn't need to be feared, so long as things are done with good sense of propriety, accountability and probity.

One chief executive (name withheld), Spectator interviewed on Monday said, "Anas is like an angel of death to some people because they fear their own males subordinates might turn out to be Anas, recording every detail of wrongdoing of one sort or another. But for some of us who will not even dream of being corrupt, Anas is welcomed on our employment list and, pay voucher. If he likes he can come."

Another CEO who begged to remain anonymous said the exploits of Anas is bound to put the fear of the devil in crime-prone managers, accountants, auditors and CEOs. "To be frank, if Anas is to invade the auditing departments of some organisations or departments, the rot that will be exposed cannot be carted away by even Zoomlion," he said. "I am very sure that some people are getting very panicky because they don't know where Anas is at the moment. And he could well be your newly employed personal assistant."

Asked if he would be surprised to learn that his personal driver is Anas, the fat-bellied CEO exclaimed, "Ei, let me go and look at his face again. It could well be."

Several junior workers of selected workplaces Spectator spoke to, said Anas and his exploits have brought some measure of sanity into corporate affairs, in the sense that wrong doers will now start looking over their shoulders when doing the under-hand deals.

"Of course, some corrupt-officials cannot change because they have chopped and their mouths are now too big to close," one said. Such people are only waiting to be caught, but frankly the presence of Anas isn't going to be a bother to them at all.”

“You see, we need Anas more than the police," another said. "The man is worth 40 detectives. If he has been able to travel to Bangkok, to rebel zones to ashawo houses, to border towns and all, and has taken injections meant for madmen, then what else can't he do? Everybody should do the right thing and then Anas will be jobless."


Source: The Spectator/Ghana