Anas Aremeyaw Anas Honours Commonwealth Hall @60 Public Lecture

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, ace investigative journalist and a lawyer in Ghana, graced the 60years Anniversary Public Lecture of Commonwealth Hall organized by the Old Vandals Association (OVA).

The Conference Room of Commonwealth Hall was fully occupied with Old Vandals, Current Vandals, some members of the University Community, invited guests, media men and women who waited patiently for the well-coordinated presentation of Anas.

Chairman of the program, Professor Harry Akussah in his opening remarks gave a flashback of how he met with Anas when He was the Hall master. He mentioned that the Senior Tutor in his time contacted him pertaining Anas residential status, adding that he has been admitted to Commonwealth Hall.

Anas who wore his usual disguised bead mask, clad in a long “jalabia” a locally made cloth covering his whole body from head to feet. He was welcomed by Vandals and Associates Supporters Union (VANDASU) with cheers and songs. He began the lecture by acknowledging the immerse contribution Commonwealth Hall and the Old Vandals Association has done for him. He added that his personality today were principles from the phrase ” Truth Stands” the motto of the Hall.

“Commonwealth Hall has made me who am I. And this stems from the principle I learnt here – Truth Stands” he said.

He made a video presentation of some of the works he has done locally and internationally. Notably were the famous Judicial exposé in Ghana, Nsawam Prison plight, Ghana Psychiatry, Albino story, Ghana Ports exposé among others.

He reiterated his method of journalism: Naming, Shaming and Jailing. Adding that, he is more careful in his work by making an impact to Society and attributed all his work to team effort.

“One thing that I’m more careful about is doing investigations that impact society. I cannot do this alone, I thank my team for all the works we have done and will continuously do to make sure the bad guys are out behind bars” he noted.

He rhetorically enquired whether Ghanaians better still Africans should just believe democracy just because it’s coming from the West. He added that those were some of the questions he asked himself a few years into journalism.

“The big question I always ask myself is should we believe democracy just because it is coming from the West?” he asked.

Anas expressed that his critics always have a problem with his work especially after the normal work as a journalist to tell just the story but he has still focused on what he does.

Story in Nsawam

Anas continued with the video presentation with undercover at Nsawam Prison. He expressed that the condition was very terrible and inhuman. He mentioned that the situation can happen to anybody.

“in the jail, it was easy to get hard drugs (cocaine, weed etc..) more than you’ll get it back home” he said.

Orphanage home Story

“orphans were beaten and mishandled in some children’s home. The abuse was too much for him to bear. Some Children were dying and they were buried ” Anas said.

 




Speaking about the story he made about the story about how some innocent children born with deformity were handled at the witch village. He mentioned that the children born with deformities were given poisonous concoction to kill them because it was believed they were evil. He said he had to pose as an individual whose baby has a challenge which led to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Anas also told the audience his undercover in Tanzania where Albinos were murdered, others faced live “the matchete” whose parts of bodies were amputated for rituals.

Advising the audience, Anas pointed out that it takes few members in society to make a difference and more attention must gear towards curbing the challenges confronted society. “Maybe we should be a little more alert and pay attention to what happens in our societies. Maybe we may think it doesn’t matter to us – when people steal millions and billions, but we shouldn’t forget that tomorrow we’ll have children” he said.

He called upon Vandals to continue to play the advocacy role to make an impact in society. He expressed that society needs people like vandals to speak for them and urge members present to deploy tactics and abilities learned while in school to make an impact in society. “We should know that society need us as a people. We should deploy those tactics and abilities we learn here to contribute to society”.

Anas revealed that he has 60 people in Ghana who have not done good for the nation from question posed to Anas about his most challenging story a current Vandal. “I have 60 videos of people who have not done good for Ghana. It’s just a matter of time, all of them have not done good for Ghana. I just tell you to keep your figures crossed, it is coming” he said

Meanwhile, Anas who has deep respect for Vandalism clearly stated that the in as much as many people do not understand the true meaning of Vandalism, members should try to leave by its values and continue to be the “voice to the voiceless on society” which will eventually sprouts whole concept of Vandalism to the world.

The Chairman, Prof. Harry Akussah, in his closing remarks appealed to the Old Vandals and the Hall to document the great and worth of knowledge of Vandalism to preserve them for smooth transition to the young ones to understand. He further explained the consequences of not documenting the great worth of knowledge of Vandalism as a culture and way life which are subject to adulteration. He added that Vandals are always behind him.

 

By:Hanson Emmanuel/ghanadailies.com