Dear Anas,
I have closely followed your work, from your exposés to your latest legal victory over Kennedy Agyapong in a U.S. court, where you secured a $18 million defamation judgment. This is a testament to the resilience of truth and justice, and we commend you for your commitment to exposing corruption.
You have long been regarded as an icon of investigative journalism in Ghana, with many embracing your unconventional approach to exposing wrongdoing.
However, in recent years, your methods have come under intense scrutiny. While your efforts to fight corruption are appreciated, some argue that your tactics resemble entrapment rather than pure investigative reporting. The debate is no longer just about whether you catch the guilty but about how you do it.
Yet, beyond the ethical concerns surrounding your work, a larger crisis is at hand—the state of journalism in Ghana. Have you taken a step back to examine how the media landscape has evolved into a profit-driven entity rather than a pillar of accountability?
Today, journalism has become a thriving industry for those willing to engage in unethical practices, such as blackmail, influence trading, or aligning with political interests. Ironically, the very profession meant to hold power accountable is itself drowning in corruption, playing a complicit role in the erosion of our democracy.
And so, I must ask: Why have you not turned your investigative lens toward your own colleagues? Why does your work mainly target politicians, judges, and public officials while the rot within journalism remains unchecked? The media, rather than serving as a watchdog, has become a power broker, often enabling the very corruption you claim to fight.
The reckless abuse of language on our airwaves, the unchecked peddling of misinformation, and the weaponisation of journalism for political gain—these are not minor infractions. They are existential threats to the very democracy you seek to protect.
Ghana’s democracy is under siege, not only by corrupt politicians but also by journalists who patronise, shield and amplify their wrongdoing. When will we see an exposé on the deep-seated corruption within Ghanaian journalism? When will investigative journalism turn inward to restore credibility to a profession that was once a noble calling, not just a career?
We await the day when someone—perhaps even you—will shed light on the dark corners of the very industry meant to safeguard the truth. Until then, the fight against corruption remains incomplete.