Undercover investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has dug into his archives to produce a link to a statement issued in 2011 by the then opposition New Patriotic Party commending him and recommending his work to uncover corruption.
The statement, published then by Ghanaweb, has the party recommending “Mr. Anas for high national honour.”
He shares the link against the backdrop that the government of the NPP now says it would subject the raw footage of Anas’ latest undercover work, Galamsey Fraud (Part 1) to scrutiny in order to proceed on any action against anyone found to have solicited for money or taken bribes to circumvent laid down procedures or engaged in any corrupt act.
Read the statement below;
NPP’s Press Statement On Anas’ Tema Port Expose
Government’s Reaction To Anas’ Work Is Scandalous
Ghana News Headlines
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) salutes Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas, of the New Crusading Guide, for the latest work on exposing corruption in our public administration, specifically at the Tema Port.
Mr Anas’ investigative work, has ranged from exposing malpractices in biscuit manufacturing, Chinese Prostitution ring, psychiatric care, rot at our western borders and his latest, rot at our Tema Port.
The work has been characterised by long months of self sacrifice, diligence and such dogged determination as to win the admiration of all both in and outside Ghana and Africa as a whole.
The New Patriotic Party takes this opportunity to recommend Mr. Anas for high national honour.
However, ladies and gentlemen, we in the New Patriotic Party are disappointed by the reaction of the Mills-Mahama administration to the work of Mr Anas.
The reaction has ranged from lukewarm, to scandalous and shameful.
OSU CHILDREN’S HOME
On the exposures at Osu children’s Home for example, the political reaction sought to attack Mr Anas integrity. His motives were questioned and his findings were said to be doctored. Eventually some committee was set by the respective Ministry.
The political reaction had been so discouraging such that there was hardly any collaboration/cooperation between the committee and Mr Anas.
Since then there has been no new policy initiative by the Mills-Mahama administration to protect Ghana’s children.
COCOA SMUGGLING
The political reaction to Mr Anas diligent exposure of rot and corruption at our Western borders has also been nothing short of scandalous.
Mr Anas had provided strong evidence, including audio and graphic video of officials facilitating the smuggling of cocoa, a criminal activity which cost the country dearly in export earnings.
However, just last week, as the President was preparing to make his visit to the Tema Port, the 14 security personnel who were at the centre of the alleged cocoa smuggling scandal, were being freed for the second time for want of prosecution.
The men were first released in June 2010. They were rearrested in July 2010 and put before a second court, only to be released again for the second time on the 1st of February 2011. This was not because the prosecution did not have evidence. No. It was because the Attorney General and his lawyers simply repeatedly failed to show up to present the evidence that a private investigator had painstakingly and dangerously gathered for them. All that the Attorney General had to do was to present the evidence and prosecute.
Ladies & gentlemen, can we say that the Mills-Mahama government is serious about building a better Ghana where the price of corruption is high and unattractive?
Ladies and gentlemen, despite the plethora of state security and investigative agencies, it took Mr Anas to conduct an investigation and provide evidence of official malpractice and corruption at our Western borders.
What is left is for these agencies and prosecutors.
Source: Graphiconline.com
