Raymond Archer - The Forgotten Hero?

Events of the 2008 elections which brought the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) back to power after spending eight agonizing years in opposition is one that brings fond memories of how some NDC party members, sympathizers and patriotic citizens of our dear nation had to put their lives on the line to ensure there was a political level playing field in the country that would ensure that other parties in opposition could campaign and win power on the basis of their policies. One of such fearless and audacious patriotic Ghanaians who fought the viciousness and the politics of calumny and vindictiveness of then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to ensure the peoples� mandate was not shortchanged in the 2008 elections as it happened in 2004 was the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Enquirer newspaper, Raymond Archer. Even with threats of assassination and deprivation of his dignity as a journalist and human being hanging on his neck, as was revealed in the American leaked cable, Wikileaks, the then young but courageous investigative journalist single-handedly and with some support from Accra-based private radio station, Radio Gold, exposed all the crude machinations of the NPP to rig the 2008 elections at the expense of peace, stability and cohesion of the nation. His modus operandi was the exposure of deep-seated corruption and graft in the administration of the then Kufuor-led NPP government through the use of hard hitting and graft-busting investigative journalism. He started his anti-graft investigative projects while working at Kofi Koomson�s Ghanaian Chronicle before establishing his own Enquirer newspaper mid-way in the Kufuor administration. The 2002 Global Medal and African Prize of the Lorenzo Natali Prize for Excellence in Journalism award winner did not only expose deep-rooted corruption in the Kufuor administration and how it officials planned rigging the 2008 elections, he also used his investigative prowess to ensure that an even political environment was created for the 2008 elections. The NDC as the most viable political opposition at the time benefited immensely towards the patriotic duties Raymond was played by winning the 2008 elections. Some of the scandals Mr Archer exposed during the NPP government were the Castle Kickback scandal, the Anane Scandal and the various rigging attempts by the NPP and their operatives in the 2008 elections. The victory of the NDC then was the only guarantee for national peace and harmony because majority of Ghanaians were angling to see the end of the maladministration and corruption of the then Kufuor-led NPP government. However, since the NDC won the 2008 elections, partly, riding on the shoulders of the enterprising Raymond Archer no one in the ruling party has ever remembered the exploits of the �young� investigative journalist let alone recognizes him with a simple �thank you�. While nothing is being heard of the once audacious crusader of fair play in democratic governance and constitutionalism after the victory of the NDC in 2009, The Al-hajj has gathered that the Enquirer Chief Executive is presently managing a printing press he set up single-handedly from loans he sourced from three banks. While the printing press, located at the Trade Fair in Accra seems to have significant prospects in future, the specter of servicing the huge loans that helped set it up is creating sleepless nights for Raymond Archer, who was nearly martyred by the NPP and their cruel political machine in the run up to the 2008 elections for his adroitness and fearlessness in fighting for justice and rule of law in the nation�s nascent democracy. Sources close to him told The Al-hajj that every month the one-time virulent defender of rule of law and an anti-corruption campaigner, struggles to service his indebtedness to the three financial institutions �all because the party he puts his life on the line to ensure it won the 2008 elections won�t give his company printing jobs�hence he has resigned to fate and now relies on few friends and corporate organizations for printing jobs to settle his debts.� �Not that he cares, but the government and the group of people who benefited from his courage and exploits could have even offered to help as a way of reciprocating� he has not asked for it, but they should have known better,� the source said on condition of anonymity. However, The Al-hajj�s investigations indicate that the former journalist of the year award winner is also battling with serious backache likely to affect his spinal cord due to long hours of work in order to meet his commitment with his banks. Even though doctors are said to have advised the former anti-corruption crusading journalist to slow down or risk serious health consequences, Raymond Archer, this paper�s investigations revealed, works for close to 16 hours a day so as to ensure that he do not default in his repayment schedule. "Can you believe that since Raymond helped bring NDC to power he has not on a single occasion been invited on any presidential trip oversees, even when some known opposition media people are sometimes sent on international trips like visiting Singapore to inspect FPSO Kwame Nkrumah then under construction?� A source close to the ace investigative journalist told The Al-hajj. Even more worrying, the source revealed was that a �customized made car� Raymond Archer imported for use by his arthritis suffering mother who finds it difficult to walk, and while he was away pursuing a course in Israel; the car landed in Ghana was confiscated and sold for staying at the port beyond the permissible period. This was said to be against the backdrop of pleadings by the Enquirer CEO to pay whatever penalties the state authorities would charge for the �specially designed car� for staying at the port beyond the permissible period since it was specifically designed for his ailing mother. Sources say not even his close association with top officials of government could save his ailing mother�s car from been auctioned. The source also revealed to this paper that Raymond Archer, who had to flee his home to avoid attempted assassination during the Kufuor-led NPP administration while pursuing the interest of democracy and fair play in the political environment sadly, for several months chased officialdom for exemption on some imported raw materials to aide his printing job but to no avail. Fortunately, it was after he struggled to raise funds to go and pay and clear the goods that, he was informed by the Custom Division of the GRA that the goods were after all, zero rated and don�t attract duties. For all these happenings Archer has kept his cool and is said to have concentrated on his printing business in order to beat the deadline for the loans he has contracted to set up the business. This explains why for some years nothing has been heard from the hitherto hardworking investigative journalists. Some of Raymond�s admirers have inundated The Al-hajj with incessant calls for him to return to frontline activism but indications are that it would take some time and some serious lobbying to get Raymond Archer back to what he normally do best. With allegations of the Mahama administration disappointing even leading members of the NDC and pushing scores of them on the touchline, one wonders whether somebody in this government can lend a listening ear to The Al-hajj regarding the issues raised on Raymond Archer. But it is important to remember the old local adage that what goes up always comes down.