FINAL DECISION: Anas’ galamsey investigation shows at AICC today

The Accra International Conference Center (AICC)  has made an eleventh hour  U-turn and now given full clearance to renowned investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas to  premier his ‘Galamsey Economy’ investigative documentary  today Monday (November 14, 2022) and  tomorrow Tuesday (November 15, 2022) at the facility.

This decision is a reversal  of an earlier one by Management of the AICC to stop the journalist from premiering the said investigative piece although Anas and his team had booked the facility ahead and even sent out invitation.

When news broke that AICC had told Anas and his team that the facility could no longer be used for the premier, social media exploded with wild reactions and condemnation for Government with several persons  suggesting that the decision was politically motivated.

Anas himself, through a press statement had expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision to throw him out although he had an agreement with the AICC to use the facility.

At the peak of the public outcry Sunday evening, management of the AICC issued a statement to say it had made a U-turn and that the journalist could go ahead with the premier as scheduled.

The statement signed by the Director of the AICC, Vivian K.A Asempapa  noted that:  “the initial confusion was due to a scheduling conflict at the level of the AICC staff and not in any way a political decision as being speculated.

“The matter has been resolved. We have made contact with the organizers and the event is expected to come off as scheduled.”

Tiger Eye PI, Anas’ firm also issued a second statement to confirm it had received communication from the AICC that the premier should go ahead.

The statement read in full:

RE: GALAMSEY ECONOMY EXPOSÉ:

ACCRA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE PREVENTS TIGER EYE FROM USING VENUE FOR PUBLIC SHOWING

1. Tiger Eye P. I. has taken note of communications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on the above subject matter reversing earlier decision not to allow us show our latest documentary there.
2. We have agreed to go ahead with the public screening of the upcoming undercover investigative work titled “Galamsey Economy” this Monday and Tuesday (14 & 15) November 2022 at the AICC.
3. We appreciate the intervention by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. We, however, wish to point out that whiles the Minister was busy intervening, her deputy, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong and some workers at Flagstaff house were busy engaging in needless propaganda.
4. Tiger Eye affirms that we were denied use of the place barely 48 hours to the public screening. We had already paid in full the initial cost and also made additional payment via cheque when AICC increased the cost of the venue by about 30 per cent.
5. We also want to place on record that Tiger Eye P.I. does not sell tickets for public screening. It is free. Tiger Eye Also uses electronic medium to broadcast its investigative work all the time. It also does public screening from time to time.