Anas defends latest COVID-19 exposé despite criticism
Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has defended his latest investigative piece on COVID-19 despite the criticism which has greeted his work.
A section of the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the work saying the claims in the report did not reflect the true story on the ground.
This Anas expose is really confusing 🤔
Too much ambiguity. If the said PPE belonged to the individual, why paint such a grim picture. pic.twitter.com/OKtJFmFuQt— Kobby (@KobTwum) August 10, 2020
I think we will all agree Kennedy Agyapong’s expose soiled Anas’ credibility. He is gradually becoming unpopular.
— Shaman (@Lustigback) August 11, 2020
Ok so if the PPEs doesn’t belong the Ridge hospital, then why is Anas’ expose a big deal?🙄
— BRYTEMENS.ONLINE (@brytemens) August 10, 2020
But Anas contends the interest generated so far proves his work has been highly impactful.
“If between yesterday and today, I am getting a million views on the film [on social media], then it should tell us how the public is receiving it. I am very happy about it and I think the numbers are even going to grow bigger.
“I can clearly see the panic in the management of the Ridge Hospital when on Sunday when we had not even released the documentary, they quickly issued a statement. That is what we want, we want to have the impact. We don’t have to leave our state institutions to think that nobody is watching,” Anas said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.
The documentary dubbed ‘Cashing in on COVID; exploiting the global pandemic and profiting from the sale of PPE’, captured two staff of the Ridge Hospital, Thomas Osei, Medicine Counter Assistant and Divine Kumordzi of the Sewing Unit of the Hospital allegedly selling COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) within the hospital.
The two staff have since been suspended by the hospital management for what they described as administrative malpractices.
Anas disagreed with claims by the Ridge authorities that the items do not belong to the hospital and do not also constitute the hospital’s COVID-19 stock either donated or procured.
According to the celebrated investigative journalist, follow-ups by his Tiger Eye PI team evidently confirmed that the personal protective kits were purchased by the hospital.
“Even in the Ridge Hospital statement, they mentioned one Thomas Osei. But for Divine, they mentioned clearly that the PPE is state-owned. It is very clear from the film, so the fact that they suspended them alone should tell us something.
“The personality involved in the scandal admits he bought it from an institution, and the institution is very clear that it is Ridge Hospital that said the PPE should be sent to. So we have done our best to put everything out there. So the film is there for everybody to see who is saying what”, he added.