I have been vindicated - Anas

By Kobina Welsing/Citifmonline.com | Thu 11th November, 2010 16:20 GMT

Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has lauded the recommendations made by the committee that investigated the Osu Children’s Home exposé, insisting that the report has exonerated him of all accusations and false allegations he was subjected to when the story broke out.

The nine-member committee set up by the government to investigate both the Osu Children’s Home and the Osu Remand Home, on Wednesday, November 10, submitted its final recommendations to the Employment Minister, E.T Mensah.

After two months of investigations into allegations of massive corruption and alleged neglect and reckless abuse of inmates of the two homes, the Antwi-Boasiako-led committee said it found evidence to indict the Heads of the two homes for dereliction of duty.

The Committee recommended the immediate reassignment of the heads of the two homes and further investigations by the police.

However, the report stated that the video footage was taken over a two and a half month period instead of the seven month period stated by Anas. The report also added that the video also amounted to invasion of privacy of the children captured.

But, speaking to host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Moro Awudu on Thursday, November 11, Anas Aremeyaw Anas described the period stated by Committee’s report as erroneous.

He maintained that the documentary was done within a seven month period and could not have been done within a two and a half month period when he was engaged with equally important national issues.

According to him, the report has exonerated him of all accusations and an allegation that the documentary was stage-managed and deliberately filmed to dent the image of the country.

“I am generally very happy with contents of the report…we have moved from the realm of speculations where people thought that we had stage-managed events. We have also left that state where ministers of state said I did this to tarnish the image of the nation. Substantially most things that have been said in the report is a vindication of whatever we said, it clearly showed that we had no malice, we went there in the interest of the kids”.

Anas also added that he is delighted by the punitive actions that have been meted out to the heads of the two homes.

“What is also remarkable to note is the kind of punitive action that has been meted out and the fact that the police have been told to do further investigations into some of the issues. I think generally it is a piece of welcome news”.

Anas apologized to the children whose images were captured in the video and feel stigmatized by the documentary.