Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Anas Aremeyaw Anas has earned over 50 international and local awards for his relentless advocacy for basic human rights, such as the right to live free from slavery, and his fearless exposure of corruption. His investigative journalism has garnered global recognition, culminating in a significant mention by President Barack Obama during a 2009 visit to Ghana. Obama praised Anas’s work, stating: “An independent press, a vibrant private sector, a civil society… those are the things that give life to democracy. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth.” This acknowledgment from a sitting U.S. president underscored Anas’s profound impact on journalism and his contributions to transparency and justice in Africa and beyond. His fearless reporting continues to serve as a model for the role investigative journalism plays in upholding democracy and fighting corruption, often at great personal risk. Few have seen his real face, even after a so-called “unmasking” during a BBC interview in November 2015, which revealed only a prosthetic disguise.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas hails from Bimbilla in Northern Ghana and spent his formative years at Burma Camp, a military barracks in Accra. He attended Christian Methodist Secondary School before pursuing his studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he earned his first diploma. Following this, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Ghana. His thirst for knowledge and justice led him to further legal education at the Faculty of Law and the Ghana Law School, equipping him with the skills that would underpin his investigative work and commitment to human rights and anti-corruption efforts.

After completing university, Anas Aremeyaw Anas declined an offer to work as a reporter for the Ghanaian Times and instead joined The Crusading Guide newspaper in 1998. At the time, the paper’s editor, Kweku Baako Jr, had just been released from prison, adding a layer of urgency to the publication’s mission. Anas would go on to become co-publisher of The New Crusading Guide and, in 2008, he launched his own production and investigative company, Tiger Eye PI Media, marking the next phase of his groundbreaking career in investigative journalism.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas has forged extensive collaborations with major international outlets such as Al-Jazeera and the BBC. In 2017, he founded The Tiger Eye Foundation, a media non-profit with branches in both the USA and Ghana, aimed at raising journalistic standards through a variety of dynamic initiatives. The foundation supports and educates journalists by offering investigative journalism workshops, multimedia boot camps, investigative productions, broadcasts, and community outreach programs. Anas was admitted to practice law in 2013, and since then has mostly defended himself in court, continuing his commitment to justice and transparency.

“I am a product of society. I do what makes sense to my grandmother in the village, and so there’s no point in doing journalism and working on the same street as a bad guy. I do journalism that ends up bringing me to court for me to testify as a witness, show that hardcore evidence, and get the people prosecuted.”

In December 2015, Foreign Policy magazine recognized Anas Aremeyaw Anas as one of the year’s leading global thinkers, placing him in the same esteemed company as Barack Obama, Pope Benedict XVI, and Malala Yousafzai. His groundbreaking work consistently earns him invitations to speak at international events, and in March 2016, Anas was a keynote speaker at Harvard Law School, where he shared his experiences in driving change across Africa. In 2016, The Press Foundation in Ghana established an award in his honor, with founder Listowel Yesu Bukarson stating that the award was created to inspire journalists to reach the pinnacle of their profession. Anas’s life and work are also the subject of the documentary Chameleon by Ryan Mullins, which premiered at the 2014 IDFA festival in Amsterdam.

Additionally, between October and December 2016, Anas stepped beyond his usual role in investigative journalism to become a prominent advocate for peace. He launched the “Anas4Peace” multimedia campaign, enlisting the help of Ghanaian celebrities to promote peace and unity during the tense Ghana election period. This marked his first significant foray into public life outside his investigative work, showcasing his dedication to fostering social stability in his home country.