African investigative journalists must be smarter than these thieves, says Anas

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, renowned investigative journalist, says as corrupt persons are getting smarter and more brazen, investigative journalists ought to change their tactics, and get smarter.

The Ghanaian journalist said this at the Africa Investigative Journalists Conference, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Amid issues of ethical questions about subterfuge reporting, the future of investigative reporting in Africa,  Anas, said undercover reporting is the last resort.

 “We should understand that society is becoming dynamic. The thieves are becoming more intelligent. The problems we are having are increasing, how do we solve them?” he asked.

“My job is not to publish fantastic stories for you to read in your bedrooms and smile, my job is to tell you the hard facts as they are. But after having done the story, how do we make a positive change in our society. Exclusivity, is important, but I also know that I do not possess the powers of arrest. So I collaborate with state institutions, the police to make an arrest. I go to the court of law and I testify.”

The undercover journalist, whose watchword is, “I name, shame and jail”, faulted the old style of journalism which finishes the business at the point of publishing a report.

“You have finished publishing. So what is your business? That’s the old way. But journalism is about evolution. As we grow, old journalism will die. As new equipment come, as new laws are passed, journalism will die. But if as journalists, we decide to remain dogmatic, and not find solutions to current problems, we will be wasting our time.

“Why should I push further? The reasons are that simple- I live in the same society with these criminals, so the inability of my executive, legislative or judiciary to act endangers my life, so I see no reason why I shouldn’t take the step forward. The next step is for that person to be prosecuted. I am not talking about journalism that I am about to experiment, but one that has yielded positive results.”

Speaking on the controversies about his style of journalism, he said, “I know the journalist in the west have a problem with that. A journalist is supposed to mind his own business, they say. But what is wrong with collaborating with the police.

“Do I possess powers of arrest? How can I bring these guys to book? If I don’t, what would be the consequences for the society? I did went on undercover investigation about some people who kill albinos in Tanzania. After the report, we got police to arrest and prosecute them. How would I have arrested them without prima facie evidence? Do you expect me to stand in front of that guy and ask him, do you kill albinos? Will he answer? It doesn’t work. As we speak, they are going through the legal processes in Tanzania.”