𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 With Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Investigative Journalist, GH). Moderated by Stephanie Busari (Journalist and Editor for CNN, UK/NG).
Part of Disruption Network Lab’s conference Organised Crime.

Like many human activities, crimes have evolved over the years and become complex – making their resolution difficult. Most crimes are committed under the thick cover of darkness, and can only be uncovered through sophisticated operations. The necessity of permeating criminal rings is of utmost importance due to the impact of such crimes on society as a collective.

In this keynote, impelled by his mantra to name, shame, and jail, undercover investigative journalist 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘆𝗮𝘄 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘀 will present the mechanics of undercover and sting operations through heart-rending stories born out of his work over the years, highlighting the challenges thereof. Pioneered in Ghana and Africa, “Anasism”, popularly called the Anas principle in Ghana, involves the use of undercover tools and has proven to be a very effective strategy for penetrating criminal rings operating under the shadows of darkness.

At the local level, the Anas principle has been employed to shed light on the callous treatment of individuals with mental health issues while under the custody of the agency responsible for their well-being. Subsequently, legislations were passed in the parliament of Ghana to deal with the maltreatment of individuals with mental health issues. In the story “Ghana in the eyes of God (Justice for Sale)”, several judges and judicial officers were caught taking bribes of varying degrees to bend the course of justice, free criminals, and jail the innocent. Over 40 judicial staff including judges, were sacked, and judicial reforms initialised, consequently.

Internationally, Anasism was used to, for the first time, premiere the story “Number 12” which involved the uncovering of the grand and perennial corruption in football in Africa. Referees and other football officials were filmed taking bribes to change the outcome of the game which led to FIFA handing sanctions to those caught and leading to a total overhaul of football in Ghana: this work have not come without costs, with the recent assassination of Ahmed Suale, an agent of Anas playing a central role in uncovering football corruption in Africa.

Through the Anas method, the story “The Spell of the Albino” was birthed, about a criminal ring harvesting human parts of albinos in Tanzania. Those involved in the horrendous act were busted and prosecuted. A similar criminal ring was penetrated in Malawi in the story “Malawi’s Human Harvest”. The list of stories involving the penetration and busting of criminal rings using the Anas principle is endless. Consequent reforms arising from such stories remain an indelible feature of Anasism.