Anas Never Said He Was Sponsored By BBC, I Did – Baako Apologises For Misrepresentation

The Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper says an earlier comment that Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ latest work was a collaboration between the investigative journalist and British broadcaster, BBC was a misrepresentation.

Kweku Baako Jnr explained that he made the comment at the time because he assumed that the people Anas was involved with during the investigations were still with the BBC.

“I had said so publicly that it was a joint project …and indeed why I said so was because the three people who were dealing with Anas, who I’ve known for the last 30 years, were BBC people. Apparently, they have left the BBC but are part of the technical team.

“They came to me and I dealt with them on so many things…so there was a level of arrangement and collaboration between them but I had gone to the extent of saying it was a joint collaboration. So I was wrong,” he said on Peace FM’s morning show, ‘Kokrokoo’’ Wednesday.

The veteran journalist was forced to clarify his comments after an email from the BBC to Sulemana Braimah of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) was shared on social media.

In the email, the BBC denied collaborating with Anas on his #Number 12 documentary which sought to expose corruption in Ghana Football.

The BBC indicated among other things that it has no knowledge of the #Number 12 documentary and did not participate or sanction it as was suggested.

They further explained that “The BBC documentary, ‘Betraying the Game’, broadcast after ‘Number 12' was first put into the public domain, was an independent and impartial work and a report about Mr Anas’ investigation.

“The BBC played no part whatsoever in his investigation and has never sought to suggest otherwise. ‘Mr Anas is not a BBC journalist, we did not work with him during his investigation or commission him to carry out this investigation,” the email added.

For some Ghanaians, especially those who disagree with Anas’ method of investigation, the revelation goes to buttress their suspicions of the investigative journalist.

But Mr Baako said the attack on Anas is needless since he was not the one who spoke about the BBC collaboration.

For him, the revelation is belated as Anas has on many occasions clarified the BBC’ involvement, but said “if there was a mistake or a fault, it is mine and I accept responsibility for what I put out there. And if people got deceived, I apologise.

“I said so because I thought it was the truth I was putting out, it turns out mine was a misrepresentation…whatever it is Kweku Baako takes responsibility for that misinformation and I sincerely apologise.”

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E: [email protected]