Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has received numerous death threats in the past few days and must immediately be put under police protection, the Ghana Journalists Association has asserted.
According to the body, Anas’ work has put not only his life but the lives of others in danger due to the circulation of pictures supposed to be of him.
In recent days Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has been on the warpath against Anas for his upcoming documentary. He has tagged the journalist as corrupt and a crook and also threatened to expose, releasing some photos supposed to be of him.
In a statement, the GJA condemned the efforts to put Anas’ life in danger and said contrary to speculation, the work he does completely follow their code of ethics.
Full statement below…
Anas Aremeyaw Anas Needs Police Protection Against Death Threats
It has come to the attention of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) that internationally-acclaimed investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has received many death threats following his latest investigative piece on the game of football in Ghana, which is scheduled to be premiered in Accra on Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday June 7, 2018. According to sources close to the ace investigative journalist, apart from receiving messages containing threats of death, some unidentified persons have been tracking his office and other locations ostensibly to harm him.
Several pictorial images have been posted online, television and on social media. These images, which are not the real identity of Anas, tend to put the lives of other persons at risk and this must stop forthwith.
The GJA finds these developments extremely disturbing and highly unfortunate. We therefore, urge the Ghana Police Service, Bureau of National Investigations and other security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, and in the utmost national interest, provide a 24-hour protection for Anas and all his interests, including his family and properties. The security agencies should not allow aggrieved and disgruntled individuals to endanger the life of this patriotic citizen of Ghana, who, at a very young age, has rendered very invaluable services to the nation.
We appreciate the fact that investigative pieces of this nature always arouse passion, emotions, anger and even hatred. However, regardless of one’s feelings, whether good or ill, under no circumstances must one deviate from the rule of law to tread on the path of impunity and engage in an assassination mission. Instead, one must resort to the law courts to seek redress to anything one finds untoward in such matters.
Whatever be the case, Chapter 13 of the GJA Code of Ethics fully justifies the means by which Anas conducts his investigative works on the ground of national interest.
The GJA wishes to remind the nation of Ghana’s enviable first position on the World Press Freedom Index 2018 and the enormous economic benefits it holds for the nation. This achievement was not procured on a silver platter; it was earned through our collective resolve to promote press freedom in the country, as captured under Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution. In that same spirit of unity of purpose,
we must collectively resist acts, much less death threats on journalists that have the tendency to undermine our press freedom status and collective good.
Even before the premiering of the undercover expose, Anas’ investigative piece has already generated international interest. And so it is important for us to conduct our affairs in a manner that would bring dignity, not disgrace, to Ghana. The whole world is watching us.
SIGNED
Affail Monney
(President)