World renowned investigative journalist and CEO of Tiger Eye PI, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has been voted the Most Influential Young Ghanaian out of a list of 50 personalities.

Notable among Anas’ works in 2015 was his undercover project which exposed a damning corruption scandal in Ghana’s judiciary. The documentary film shook the world, leading to the dismissal of several judicial workers and some judges. The secretly filmed documentary also made it as the most successful film premiere in Ghana which was shown amidst legal tussles.

Two journalists with the Multimedia Group (MGL) were also part of the list.

Gary Al-Smith, assisting Joy Sports editor (above, pictured), was voted number 11 on the list. 

Having joined MGL in February 2015, the broadcaster maintained his presence in African sport on the global news scene. His work in covering the 2015 African Cup for the BBC and, particularly, Al Jazeera ensured he was one of the most visible Ghanaian journalists on the global scene. His regular input for CNN and SuperSport for the rest of the year on various issues of African interest also cast him as one of Ghana's top reporters on the international circuit.

In December, the 27-year old was, for the third year in a row, on the panel of select ex-footballers and journalists that named the best 100 footballers in the world for the prestigious Guardian newspaper in the UK.

Locally, Gary distinguished himself with his analysis of the Dzamefe Commission's findings as well as his relevant contributions on major platforms on the Fifa and GFA crises. In the year under review, Gary was also voted the Curator of the Accra Hub of the influential World Economic Forum.

The other MGL journalist on the list was Manasseh Azure Awuni, who was ranked 30th. 

A multiple-award winner known for his strong views on anti-corruption and social justice with Joy FM, Azure (above, pictured) continued his outstanding national work as one of Ghana’s foremost investigative journalists. In the year under review, Manasseh's work was responsible for the closure that came to the highly emotive case of Dr Sulley Ali-Gabass, a medical doctor. 

A year before, the journalist's work had spurred the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Western Regional Police Command to launch investigations into a case in which the medical doctor was alleged to have sodomized a 16-year-old senior high school student. In July 2015, an Accra Circuit court presided over by Mrs Agyemang Budu sentenced the doctor to 25 years imprisonment. 

According to the ruling, the evidence, most of which came from the Joy FM senior journalist,was very substantial which proved the guilt of the accused of the charge of defilement. 

In the same year, Manasseh continued follow-ups on his award-winning stories on the SADA and GYEEDA scandals, while he also exposed the story of a murdered ex-student of Accra Girls who was dumped in a pool. 

Other awardees

Former Joy FM DriveTime host and now CEO of EIB Network, Bola Ray, was the first runner-up in the power-packed list followed by Black Stars vice captain Andre 'Dede' Ayew and Francis Xavier Sosu, a legal partner with F-X Law and Associates.

Farida Bedwei (pictured below) is the co-founder and CTO of Logiciel Ltd who runs FinTech and serves on the National Communication Authority board. She was voted the most influential young female.

Public Votes accounted for 80% of total votes, whiles an Impact Assess Research conducted by the Agape Research Center made the remaining 20% of the final rankings.

“These great young achievers have toiled for Ghana, representing and influencing their motherland positively across diverse activities and have shown their relevance among millions of young people across Ghana,” a statement from the organisers Avance Media said.

In launching what became confidently rated and endorsed by the public as the most comprehensive ranking in Ghana so far, Prince Akpah, MD of Avance Media stated, "even though 2015 was marked as a year coupled with lot of challenges, it also turned out to be a motivating one attested by the massive involvement of young people in various activities bringing at par their works and impacts."

Below is the full list of winners:

1    Anas Aremeyaw Anas    - Journalist; CEO, Tiger Eye PI
2    Bola Ray (Nathaniel Anokye Adisi)    - TV & Radio Host; CEO, EIB Network
3    Dede Ayew    - Footballer; Black Star &, Swansea City
4    Francis-Xavier Sosu    - Lawyer; Managing Partner, F-X Law and Associates
5    Farida Bedwei    - Entrepreneur; CTO, Logiciel Ltd
6    Asamoah Gyan    - Philanthropist; Skipper, Black Stars
7    Dr. Naomi Adjepong    - Trainer; COO, Alpha Beta Educational Centre
8    Franklin Cudjoe    - Advocate; CEO, Imani Ghana
9    Tonyi Senayah    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Horseman Shoes
10    Albert Kusi    - Public Speaker; CEO, LEC Holdings Ltd
11    Gary Al-Smith    - Journalist; Sports Host, Joy FM & Joy News
12    John Armah    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Orios Group
13    Dr. Randy Osae Bediako    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Kharis Group
14    Dr. William Okyere Frimpong    - Doctor; Medical Director, LEKMA Polyclinic
15    Bernard Avle    - TV & Radio Host; Programs Director, Citi FM
16    Martha Bissa    - Athlete; Olympic Gold Medalist
17    Edem Adzaho    - Trainer; CEO, Spec Consult Ltd
18    Nana Bediako Kwame    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Wonda World Estates
19    Sara Nana Yeboah    - Philanthropist; Co-Founder, The Sangy Foundation
20    Dr. Byrite Asamoah    - Medical Doctor; Producer, Vodafone Healthline
21    Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah    - Speaker; CEO, Zoweh Global Consult
22    Ato Ulzen Appiah    - Social Entrepreneur; Director, Ghana Think Foundation
23    Alloysius Attah    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Farmerline Ltd
24    Elizabeth Patterson    - Social Entrepreneur; Girls Education Initiative Ghana
25    John Dumelo    - Actor
26    Kwadwo Safo Jnr    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Kantanka Group
27    Shirley Frimpong Manso    - Film Maker; CEO, Sparrows Productions
28    Becca (Rebecca Acheampong)    - Musician
29    Kafui Adzah    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Cookhouse
30    Manasseh Azure    - Journalist; Multimedia Group
31    Kobby Blay    - Nurse; CEO, Ghana Health Nest
32    Israella Kafui Mansu    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Mansuki Ghana Limited
33    Mercy Myles    - Athlete; Skipper, Black Queens
34    Jeremiah Buabeng    - Public Speaker; CEO, Buabeng Communications
35    Petra Aba Asamoah    - Speaker; GM, Delta Air Lines GSA, Ghana
36    Nana Asaase    - Poet; CEO, Asaase Inscriptions
37    Bright Simons    - Entrepreneur; CEO, mPedigree
38    Ekow Mensah    - Entrepreneur; CEO, TANOE
39    Alain Gbeasor    - Entrepreneur; Chairman, Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs
40    Mabel Aku Baneseh    - Journalist; Daily Graphic
41    Sarah Adwoa Safo    - Politician; MP, Dome Kwabenya Constituency
42    Maximus Ametorgoh    - Technologist; CEO, PopOut
43    Juliet Ibrahim    - Philanthropist; CEO, Juliet Ibrahim Foundation
44    Bernard Kevin Clive    - Public Speaker; CEO, BKC Consulting
45    Raindolf Owusu    - Technologist; CEO, Oasis Websoft Ltd
46    Emmanuel Woyome    - Speaker; CEO, Corporate Consulting Limited
47    Derrydean Dadzie    - Entrepreneur; CEO, Dreamoval Ltd
48    Prosper Hoetu    - Advocate; Director, YOUNET
49    Erasmus Kwaw    - Journalist; Sports Host, GBC
50    Peace Hyde    - TV Host; CEO, AIM Higher Africa

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