Why I Admire Anas Aremeyaw Anas So Much

Sulemana Braimah (suleb2016@gmail.com)

In July this year, I travelled with Anas to Ouagadougou. The mission was to discuss the establishment of a West African Centre for Investigative Journalism. We had a two-day meeting with colleagues from other countries and agreed to the setting up of the Centre to be based at the Nobert Zongo Press Centre in Ouagadougou.
We sat next to each other on our way to Ougaa and on our return. Throughout our flights to and from Burkina, Anas wouldn’t change a topic. Not even when we encountered turbulence and needed to briefly touch on the bad weather. From the flight to our hotel to dinner times and all, Anas kept talking about Ghana and how we can make our country a better place.
All throughout our conversations during our Burkina trip, his facial and verbal expressions were laden with indescribable doses of patriotism. Anas simply loves Ghana!
He has always been passionate about wanting to see a decent Ghana; a Ghana with equal opportunities for all, a Ghana that truly lives up to its motto of Freedom and Justice.
"Look, Sule, sometimes I weep within me when I see the poor suffering,” he says this repeatedly to during many of our meetings. And he says it with a facial look that may tempt you to start weeping.
“So sometimes when people talk to me about risks involved in my stories, I just tell myself, we need to make our country a better place. Look, I tell myself if what I am doing will help change our country, then it's worth the risk,” that is Anas for you. He exudes patriotism.
Prior to our trip to Burkina, I had a meeting with Anas to discuss how we can improve the role of journalism in the development of our nation. From our discussion, mentoring younger journalists came up strongly as one of the things we could try to do.
So right there, I asked him: "Do you think we should have a forum on the role of investigative journalism for national development. At this forum you will make a presentation to young journalists as a way of starting the mentoring process? His response was quick: “Oh Yes. I am always ready for anything this is about improving our country."
Right there, we fixed a date for what became the MFWA's Journalism for Change forum held on August 19. He was the main speaker at the forum, which was attended by journalists and members of the public.
Before accepting to speak at the forum, he asked: "I hope people are not going to pay to attend the forum?" I responded in the negative. “Ok that is good, because, I want to do some of these things for free. I take it as part of my contribution to journalism and Ghana's development," that was young, patriotic Anas who places his nation first. Not Money.
He came to deliver a great presentation at the forum at no cost. He responded to questions with passion, and gave hints of his judicial corruption scandal.

Then surprisingly, after the forum, Anas asks me for more. "Massa, can we have more?" I asked him, "more of what?" Then he explained "can we organise more of this kind of forum in the regions and in our journalism schools for the young ones? I don’t mind, even if I have to put in my own money." That is Anas.
When I stood for a moment think about his proposal, he went on: Look, Sule, I have always told you that I want to see Ghana become a better place. I know I can't do it alone. I need to inspire other young ones to believe that they can do better than I am doing in journalism and help them do it. Let's fix other events for the regions and schools because I think it will help." The mark of a true patriot
Anas is such an extra-ordinary patriot. He does what he does solely because of his love for his country and nothing else. He loves justice and values equality. Anas is a great person who needs to be celebrated. My admiration for him has no bounds.
Help me salute great son of Ghana.