I must say from the word go that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is the best thing that has happened to Ghana for a very long time. His latest heroic sting of the judiciary has taken the country by storm, and it is making a lot of very important people extremely uncomfortable, especially those at the seat of government, because they are next in line. I am patiently keeping my fingers crossed for an explosion, which will turn out to be their Waterloo. The fact is corruption in Ghana is not just a matter of few apples in the barrel; it is the whole container that is rotten. And if that is not fixed, no amount of managerial skills and economic acumen can save the country.

I have been enjoying myself ever since the story broke. Though some prominent people have been making a fool of themselves with their childish comments, you just have to know who is talking to brush them aside. The fact is those who have been caught in this mess are not going to keep their mouth shut – they will go down fighting to the bitter end, even if they have to grab unto straws to catch their last breathe. Besides, those who stand to benefit, if they beat the rap, will scrape the bottom of the barrel to come up with some legalistic hogwash to discredit Anas.

Somewhere last week I read a comment on ghanaweb in which someone was suggesting that Anas is disgracing the country for exposing the judges caught on tape. I was livid beyond words; I had to take time out to calm down my nerves. When I later recovered my composure I consoled myself that it is the comments of a dimwit who is so much concerned with appearances. I, therefore, dropped it altogether to continue enjoying the Anas drama.

However, Bright Akwetey, a private legal practitioner, was fixated on interrupting my amusement. About three days ago he made a statement, which is a classic case of looking at just one side of the argument. The following is the link to his wretched thoughts: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Order-Anas-to-arrest-freed-criminals-Lawyer-383890 He argued that it is greater evil for Anas to have used tactics that let off tough criminals into the community. He further claimed that some of these criminals are armed robbers who will continue to rob and kill people. Of course, Mr Akwetey is right; on the other hand, did Mr Akwetey think about the ultimate consequence of not being able to cure this virulent cancer, which has been metastasising since independence. I hate to point it out; death is the grand finale, failed state is the inevitable denouement, and this cannot be compared to Anas tactics in any stretch of the imagination.

Corruption is just like a cancer, and to destroy it some healthy cells will undoubtedly be affected. It is very childish for a smart person like Mr Bright Akwetey to make that submission. Corruption is killing Ghana slowly, and as far as I am concerned, Anas tactics are small potatoes that shouldn’t be questioned by any Ghanaian with the interest of the nation at heart. When people are dying in their numbers for lack of food, good drinking water, lack of medical care, poor sanitation, unemployment etc. due to the activities of these nation wreckers, and he has the incredible temerity to argue that the armed robbers who were let loose will kill people. What about the thousands that is going to be saved because of his work. I am not even touching the economic benefits this will bring. Think, Mr Bright Akwetey, you sound childish and ridiculous.

For those who think that Anas is washing our dirty linen in public, I believe should look themselves again in the mirror. Ghana is destitute; what is there to show off. We are living on past glories that have become stale. Let us come to the 21st century. There are worst things that are being exposed in better countries and they don’t make noise about it. Currently, there is an ongoing investigation that involved former Westminster MPs and ministers who were involved in a paedophile ring that abused children for years. This is the mother of all parliaments, and these things happened about 30 years ago, but they still have the need to expose it in order to prevent it from happening again. There is an Akan saying that when you don’t sell your sickness you will not have a cure. Ghana is sick; we can only have a cure when we expose it. They say sunshine is the best disinfectant. Anybody who is against what Anas has done or doing has got something to hide. My unadulterated conviction is that he is an enemy of mother Ghana. Anas Aremeyaw Anas may have his faults as a human being, but currently he is the best thing that has happened to Ghana in a very long time. The incalculable benefit he has brought us far outweighs the liabilities. Those who can’t deal with it should just zip up.


Philip Kobina Baidoo Jnr.
London
baidoo_philip@yahoo.co.uk