Six years after his colleague was killed for helping expose corruption in African football, Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas says the fight for truth must go on.
Speaking at the 87th AIPS Congress in Morocco, Anas reflected on the dangers of his work, especially after the murder of his partner Ahmed Hussein-Suale in 2019. The two had worked on the famous 2018 investigation “Betraying the Game”, which revealed bribery among nearly 100 football officials across Africa. The story led to 66 lawsuits – and deadly consequences.
Anas said he never set out to attack football, but poor refereeing that once caused a deadly stadium disaster in Ghana pushed him to dig deeper. “Football is supposed to be a fair game for everyone, especially the poor. But when you can pay for yellow cards, red cards, or even fix results, it loses its meaning,” he said.
He remembered his friend Hussein-Suale, who was shot and killed in 2019, saying: “Do we give up? No. This is a fight we continue – for fairness in football and beyond.”
Anas, who hides his face behind a curtain of beads for safety, has won many awards for his work. Despite the risks, he remains committed. He believes the future looks hopeful because more African journalists are starting to follow the money and ask important questions about where football funding really goes.
Still, the job has its challenges. Investigations are costly and risky, especially when they upset powerful fans or officials. “Passion for football is good, but it can be dangerous when people turn against you for exposing the truth,” Anas warned.
He also pointed out the benefits of new media, which allow journalists to access documents and connect with people in faraway places. But he warned about the rise of fake news and the importance of checking facts. “The only way to fight fake news is with real journalism – honest, careful reporting,” he said.
For Anas, journalism is more than a job – it’s a calling. “It’s hard on your family. You can’t sleep peacefully. You move from place to place. You’re always looking over your shoulder. But I’ve never lost a lawsuit, because my work is based on hard evidence.”
Six years on from the “Betraying the Game” exposé, he still wears his mask and still hasn’t seen justice for his colleague’s murder. “We’re not fighting air – we’re fighting organised crime. They lie, they bribe, and they will come for us. But I choose to stand on the side of truth, even if it’s hard.”
He also talked about exposing sexual harassment in sport. “We’ve received reports from all over, where young athletes are promised positions in exchange for favours. We don’t report just stories – we gather real evidence.”
Finally, Anas had a strong message for fellow journalists: “No story is worth your life. Stay alert, check your facts, and protect yourself. Talk less, do more.”
