Dear Anas,
My friend, senior and brother, there is something you are getting really wrong and I wish to draw your urgent attention to it, today, Sunday, March 3, 2019 just before I retire to bed.
It seems to me, you have taken and interpreted the “zero tolerance for corruption” mantra in its literal form and meaning.
This (mis)interpretation has earned you scaring enmity in high places and the orchestrated attack on you is now obvious. I doubt you are safe. The attacks won’t stop. Not until you stop the crusade.
Until now, I never knew it is wrong for a journalist to use whatever means, including subterfuge, to get evidence of a wrong doing or an illegality that compromises and threatens the security of the state. I had been (mis)informed it was acceptable.
So for instance, when we, as a people, said we were declaring a zero tolerance for illegal mining, I thought we meant it. I did not expect persons appointed to lead that fight to be receiving all sorts of monetary inducements (be they gifts or bribes) to bend the rules in favour of any individual or group of persons.
Corruption, we were told is as old as Adam. And when you are in political office all forms of temptations comes your way. It takes integrity to resist them. Truth is, if you cannot resist such offers, you are not fit to be in public office.
Anas, it is based on this principle that I am not against your style of using hidden cameras to film public officials who receive monetary gifts to bend the rules or compromise on standards and procedures.
I am therefore surprised at the turn of events and the organised chaos over your latest video that exposes the hypocrisy in the supposed fight against illegal mining.
As for the uniformed security persons caught on camera coaching your men on how to beat the system so they can get away with illegal mining, there is no need wasting ink on them.
We, as a people, would have no problems bashing them, shaming them and even punishing them. They have no party colours. Their fall won’t cost a thing!
All persons caught in acts of corruption are equal before the law but some are ‘more equal’ and it is this simple reality you have failed to understand.
Anas, when we, as a people, say “zero tolerance for corruption” it means zero tolerance for corruption committed by certain persons. Not everyone. Wake up bro. Face reality!
You have (mis)interpreted anti corruption in its simplest and basic meaning and you think the search light should be thrown on anyone, anywhere without fear of favour; as though you were some baby boy who shared a bathroom with the mom and started to point, in all innocence, to what he thought was a reddish sore ‘somewhere’ on the mother.
My dear brother, I believe you are now learning by negative experience that when it comes to walking the talk of zero tolerance for corruption, (in Ghana) what is good for the goose, may not be necessarily good for the gander. In fact, it may even be toxic.
Take it easy bro. Not everyone means this anti corruption fight. It is just talk, cheap talk trumpeted most loudly by beneficiaries of corruption.
Finally, I hope you aren’t too bothered by the sudden U-turn position of some of our media colleagues who hitherto claimed to also have zero tolerance for corruption. What else do you expect from a politically polarised media fraternity where the tune of the agenda is being dictated by the payers of the piper?
I have some spare time to write… Awaiting your reply to provoke a continuation.
I love you still and know not why.
NOTE: The views of the author do not represent our view
Source: Halifax Ansah-Addo
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KWABENA IS IT WRONG TO WORK FOR A SELFISH INTEREST WITH A BY-PRODUCT THAT WILL BENEFIT SOCIETY AT LARGE? WHO IM GHANA DOESNT WORK FOR HIS OR HER OWN INTEREST? SHAME ON YOU AND THE U-TURN YOU SUPPORT. IT IS CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE THAT YOU CANT FIGHT CORRUPTION.
Hmmmmm, because of small chop chop pretentiously good people turn to expose their greediness to the highest class in the name of saving a master from being disgraced. Why then did some people chose to praise the mighty works of Anass at the time they were in opposition but turns swiftly to paint him as an unwanted devil? If Anass is not recognize as the most important person in Ghana who else? Those condemning him should tell us their contribution towards the growth of this country but Anass has always risked to patched the loopholes through which the state resources leakes. Any man born discipline and responsible will not fall pray to his investigative antiques.
When illegal mining was at its worst destroying rivers and forest Anas was no where to be found. Government supported by serious media houses fights the canker to the barest minimum, Anas says he has a video. Trying to tske the shine from the government? hmmmmmm. Anas should capture people as they go about their normal duties and not induced them. That would be the real test of the culpability of the people and punishable.
People should know that it has become clear that Anas himself is corrupt. Again, Anas has always been using illegal means to come with his so called hard core evidence. Subterfuge doesn't mean a journalist should just walk to people, give them money in most of the cases as gifts and video them. If Nana Addo said he wld Anas principle and now it has become clear that Anas is a wolf in a sheep skin, and president is now being careful about his actions, what's wrong with that. Personally I didn't know how Anas was working until number 12 that I saw his method is akin to blackmailing. Setting people up. Martin Amidu was very emphatic on how Anas works, he cldt get the support because we were blindfolded at the time. Even media don't discuss issues people raise against Anas to it's fullest conclusion meaning people knew his methods can't stand the test of time hence it has become fierce this time
Great piece indeed. Anas, Don't give up the fight. Those who are not corrupt will never take anything offered them no matter the form it takes or comes. We are witness of how some of our leaders are being economical with the truth at the Shot's Commission. Some kinds of leaders we have!!. God help Ghana.
Anas is biting you and your party hard eeeeeh. I see you are very pissed. Sorry, we are going in the Anas Principle way, (Akuffo Addo, 2012) Masree saaaa
This part KILLED me "a reddish sore somewhere on the mother's body".
This guy has a way of speaking truth and not fearing the consequences. Anytime he comes on Entertainment Review, I just love his submissions
Great piece of letter full of the realities of our everyday politics and life style as Ghanaians.
It is loudest, anas is a disgrace to Ghanaians. He works for his selfish interest . After he sets up people he sells to BBC and aljazeera for cheap money. Every since this braggart Ana's started his investigations what have we achieved as a country if not for bad names. Is Ana's better than any Ghanaian? Ana's has to pay dearly for his crimes. He needs to rot and rot big time in jail. He shouldn't even be fed or given water in jail. Bogus modus operandi he uses. Nonsensenn