Disgraced journalist Kwaku Baako has been forced into a humiliating climbdown and a grovelling apology after he was exposed to have LIED over the role of BBC in a football investigation by his controversial protege Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The global broadcaster shocked the public on Monday when they rubbished claims by the editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper that they worked with Anas over the contentious documentary.
Prior to Anas’ release on the investigation termed No 12, his key men in the investigation - Kwaku Baako and Randy Abbey bragged to the public about the role of the BBC, hyping the investigation to the high heavens for maximum effect.
Baako, claimed that the latest investigative piece by his protégé, Anas was a collaboration between the Tiger Eye PI and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
He extended his fabrications when he said the BBC was angered by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to take the pre-emptive strike by asking the CID to investigate Kwesi Nyantakyi over his claims on the tape.
However, the BBC denied the claims rejecting all forms of association with the investigation claiming it only did a report on the matter without any association with Anas.
The revelation by the BBC not only exposed by lies and tactics used by the henchmen of Anas but also triggered an angry backlash from Ghanaians who feel deceived by Baako.
With anger mounting on the streets as many view the investigation as a calculated attempt to disgrace some key people in football, Baako has been forced by the reaction to admit that he deceived the public.
“I had said so publicly that it was a joint project …and indeed why I said so was because the three people who were dealing with Anas, who I’ve known for the last 30 years, were BBC people. Apparently, they have left the BBC but are part of the technical team," Baako said.
“They came to me and I dealt with them on so many things…so there was a level of arrangement and collaboration between them but I had gone to the extent of saying it was a joint collaboration. So I was wrong,” he said on Peace FM’s morning show, ‘Kokrokoo’’ Wednesday.
The veteran journalist was forced to clarify his comments after an email from the BBC to Sulemana Braimah of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) was shared on social media.
In the email, the BBC denied collaborating with Anas on his #Number 12 documentary which sought to expose corruption in Ghana Football.
The BBC indicated among other things that it has no knowledge of the #Number 12 documentary and did not participate or sanction it as was suggested.
They further explained that: “The BBC documentary, ‘Betraying the Game’, broadcast after ‘Number 12' was first put into the public domain, was an independent and impartial work and a report about Mr Anas’ investigation.
“The BBC played no part whatsoever in his investigation and has never sought to suggest otherwise. ‘Mr Anas is not a BBC journalist, we did not work with him during his investigation or commission him to carry out this investigation,” the email added.
For some Ghanaians, especially those who disagree with Anas’ method of investigation, the revelation goes to buttress their suspicions of the investigative journalist.
“I said so because I thought it was the truth I was putting out, it turns out mine was a misrepresentation…whatever it is Kweku Baako takes responsibility for that misinformation and I sincerely apologise.” Baako said.
With pressure mounting on the BBC over the methods used and growing legal challenges against Anas and possibly the British global broadcaster, the media firm is now running away from the controversy and the growing scandals surrounding the methods used by Anas.
With the BBC fully clarifying that they played no role by participating or commissioning the investigation contrary to Baako’s claims, Ghanaians have taken to social media to lambast the journalist.
This shows clearly that Anas’ friends lied about the role of the BBC dealing another blow to the credibility of the controversial journalist who has already been condemned in several quarters.
A documentary by a Member of Parliament in Ghana has been released on Anas titled ‘Who Watches the Watchman’ claiming to show that he took bribes from people. He has denied the claim.