Manasseh Azure

Manasseh Azure, born Manasseh Azure Awuni, is a freelance journalist who worked with Multimedia Group Limited in Accra, Ghana, in the past. He is known for his controversial investigative and anti-corruption reports that have caused national uproar and resulted in some government officials going to prison. He spends his leisure time speaking at youth programmes and anti-corruption seminars.

Manasseh Azure Awuni
Born1985
NationalityGhanaian
Alma materUniversity of Ghana, GIJ
OccupationInvestigative journalist
OrganizationJoy FM

Azure has won various awards for his works including the journalist of the year at the West Africa Media Excellence Awards in 2019 and 2020.[1][2]

Education

Born in Bongo in the Upper East Region, Azure moved to Kete-Krachi in the Volta Region where he completed his secondary education at Krachi Senior High School. He proceeded to the Ghana Institute of Journalism where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and, later, a Master of Arts degree in communication studies at the University of Ghana.[3]

Career

Azure began his career as a freelance journalist before joining the Multimedia Group Limited in 2012.[3] He is currently the head of investigation at Joy FM and Joy News, subsidiaries of MGL.

Controversies

Azure's work has always stirred national controversy, notably concerning the Mahama Ford saga.[4] He broke a story in 2016 when the then president, John Mahama, received a Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabé contractor. Many groups called for an investigation into the saga.[5] The gift was believed to be a return favour for a contract given to the businessman. The story damaged Mahama's second term bid.

In 2019, Azure and Joy FM broadcast a documentary titled "Militia in the heart of the nation"[6] which detailed how a private and unlicensed security group affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party operated from the seat of a government annexe, the Osu Castle. The government denied the story, as expected, but various government spokespersons contradicted one another.

The De-Eye group also sued Azure and the media house.[7] The group abandoned the suit when Azure and the Multimedia Group filed their defence. The journalist has however, won similar defamation suits against those he has investigated.[8]

Books
  • The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection and Rebound[9]
  • Letters to My Future Wife[10]
  • Voice of Conscience[11]

Awards

Azure has won:[1][3][12]

  • 2011 : Ghana Journalists Association, Journalist of the Year (awarded in 2012)
  • 2013 : Ghana Journalists Association, Best Anti-Corruption Reporter
  • 2017 : West Africa Media Excellence Awards, Best Investigating Reporting
  • 2018 : West Africa Media Excellence Awards , Anti-Corruption Reporter of the Year
  • 2018 : West Africa Media Excellence Awards, Journalist of the Year

References
  1. "Manasseh is West Africa journalist of the Year; Multimedia wins big at WAMECA". My Joy Online. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. "Manasseh Azure Awuni wins Best Journalist for West Africa". My Joy Online. 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  3. "About Manasseh Azure Awuni". Manasseh Azure. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. "Minority MPs threaten to impeach Mahama over bribery allegation". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  5. "Mahama's Ford 'gift' must be investigated". OccupyGhana. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  6. "Joy News reveals: The pro-NPP militia which trains at Presidency Annex". My Joy Online. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. Marian Ansah (13 March 2019). "De-Eye group sues Manasseh, Multimedia; demands GHC10m in damages". Citi News Room. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
    - Mutala Yakubu (13 March 2019). "De-Eye group drags Manasseh and Multimedia Group to court". Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  8. "Manasseh Awuni floors Joseph Siaw in court, damages awarded against the Zoomlion boss". Pulse. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  9. "Launch of 'The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection, Rebound'". My Joy Online. 28 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  10. Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2017). Letters to My Future Wife. ISBN 978-9988253905.
  11. Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2016). Voice of Conscience. Manasseh Azure Awuni. ISBN 978-9988-2-3799-8 – via Google Books.
  12. Adisa Amanor-Wilks (29 October 2017). "Seth Boateng, Manasseh, others honoured at maiden West Africa Media Excellence Awards". Ghana Web. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
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