Anas, Mahama, 15 others make BBC Africa’s Best Quote of 2015

Ghana’s ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas; joined 15 other influential global leaders and newsmakers on the BBC Africa Service’s list of ‘Africa’s Best Quote of 2015’

The BBC collated what in their view were the 16 most powerful voices over the year 2015 and Anas made the cut with the likes of President Mahama and his Zimbawean, Nigerian and Tanzanian counterpart alongside President Obama and Pope Francis.

The widely travelled and well decorated undercover reporter spoke to the BBC’s Ghana correspondent Sammy Darko in the wake of his judicial scandal expose, which was largely carried by the global broadcaster from the premiering through to the committee sitting and the aftermath of the Committee’s work.

Anas’s quote by the BBC read as follows: “"It's not about unmasking Anas. It's about all of us putting our hands together and ensuring we have a better continent. I think that anonymity has always been my secret weapon and I have always used it to the benefit of society.”

Anas’s expose was put together in a 90 minute thriller called “Ghana In The Eyes of God.” As a result of his work Ghana’s Chief Justice instituted processes that led to the axing of more than 20 lower court judges with the case of high court judges still to be concluded.

Anas was joined by 15 other personalities whose words stood out in the year under review. Ghana’s President together with his Tanzanian, Nigerian and Zimbabwean counterparts all made the list, with John Mahama’s inclusion being hinged to his infamous ‘dead goat’ comment.

Other global leaders listed were the US president Barrack Obama during his visit to East Africa where he addressed the African Union (AU) at its headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The Pope also made the list during his African visit late this year. Togolese football star Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was also listed as was showbiz star and fashion icon Lupita Nyongo.

Below are a few of the sampled comments:

Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe, mocking a US Supreme Court decision in June to legalise gay marriage

"I've just concluded - since President Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people and enjoys an attractive countenance - thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington DC, get down on my knee and ask his hand"

US President Barack Obama on his visit to Ethiopia in July

"I love my work. But under our constitution, I cannot run again... I actually think I'm a pretty good president - I think if I ran I could win. But I can't.

"When a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife - as we've seen in Burundi. Nobody should be president for life"

Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe in November, after her 91-year-old husband was caught on camera struggling to walk.

"We are going to create a special wheelchair for President Mugabe until he rules to 100 years because that is what we want. That is the people's choice. We want a leader that respects us".

Pope Francis on his visit to a mosque in the Central African Republic in November

"Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters.

"Together, we must say no to hatred, no to revenge and no to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself. God is peace, God salaam."

President Buhari said four months later on Nigeria's Independence Day

"We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices.

"To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens"

Togo football star Emmanuel Adebayor, denying in a Facebook post in May claims that he failed to support his family financially

"I organised a meeting in 2005 to solve our family issues. When I asked them about their opinion, they said I should build each family member a house and give each of them a monthly wage... I just want other African families to learn from this".