Investigative Journalism Powerful Weapon To Fight Corruption- Professional

By Mustapha Mustapha
A multiple award-winning Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas on Thursday described investigative journalism as a powerful weapon to fight in the world.
Anas Aremeyau stated this at the opening of a Two-day Experience Sharing Workshop on Investigative Journalism for Nigerian and Ghanaian Journalists, Lecturers and Students of Mass Communication in Universities and Polytechnics, held at Bayero University, BUK on Thursday.
In the course of sharing his experiences on how he uncovered many corrupt practices in his country and other nations in Africa, Mr Aremeyau called on practicing journalists to imbibe the culture of investigative journalism in order to liberate societies from corruption and injustice.

The face-masked journalist also implored higher institutions of learning in Africa and beyond to incorporate investigative journalism in their curriculum in a bid to breed students to venture into undercover reporting aimed at bringing even development in societies.

In a remark, former Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation, Halilu Ahmed Getso described fear as the main setback to investigative journalism in Africa.
He said for a journalist to venture into undercover reporting, should be courageous, fearless and honest.

On his part, the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies of BUK, Prof. Umar Pate said the workshop was one in the series of capacity enhancement activities on investigative journalism in the Faculty of Communication in the university.
Pate also revealed that the activities had begun in the last two and a half years with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

“So far, we have organized a series of lectures, workshops, curriculum review, and internship activities, among others to strengthen the teaching and practice of investigative journalism as tools for fighting corruption in the country.

” Not only that, but the MacArthur support also includes scholarship grants to female students and the establishment of digital radio stations for our students to put what they learn in classrooms into practice.

The workshop is designed for two days and would involve presentations and sharing experiences by professional journalists, scholars, and students of journalism.