Manasseh Azure Awuni

Manasseh Azure Awuni is a Ghanaian investigative journalist and former founding Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate.^[1][2] He previously worked with Multimedia Group Limited in Accra, Ghana.^[3]

Manasseh Azure Awuni
Born	1985
Nationality	Ghanaian
Alma mater	University of Ghana, GIJ
Occupation	Investigative journalist
Organization	The Fourth Estate

His investigative and anti-corruption reports have caused national uproar and resulted in some government officials going to prison.^[4] He spends his leisure time speaking at youth programmes and anti-corruption seminars.

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.^[5][6]

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 in Communication Studies and, later, a Master of Arts degree in communication studies at the University of Ghana.^[7]

Career

Manasseh Azure Awuni is currently the Editor-in-Chief, The Fourth Estate which is a non-profit, public-interest journalism project founded by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

Azure began his career as a freelance journalist before joining the Multimedia Group Limited in 2012.^[7] where he was 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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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"^[10] 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.^[11]

The De-Eye group also sued Azure and the media house.^[12] 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.^[13]

Books

• The President Ghana Never Got^[2]
• The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection and Rebound^[14]
• Letters to My Future Wife^[15]
• Voice of Conscience^[16]
• Investigative Journalism in Africa^[17]

Awards

Manasseh is a recipient of several awards:^[5][7][18]

• 2022: Nominee for the Allard Prize for International Integrity
• 2022: Longlist for One World Media Awards (Popular Features Category)
• 2021: Ghana's Integrity Personality of the Year, Awarded by GII, Ghana Chapter of Transparency International^[19]
• 2021: Millennium Excellence Award for Media Excellence^[20]
• 2021: 2nd Prize for Norbert Zongo Africa Investigative Journalism Award
• 2020: Overall Best Journalist for West Africa, West Africa Media Excellence Award^[21]
• 2018: Overall Best Journalist for West Africa, West Africa Media Excellence Award^[22]
• 2012: 2011 Ghana Journalists Association Best Journalist of the Year^[23]
• 2011: 2010 Ghana Journalists Association Most Promising Journalist of the Year^[24]
• 2020: Best Anti-Corruption Journalist for West Africa; West Africa Media Excellence Award
• 2018: Best Anti-Corruption Journalist for West Africa; West Africa Media Excellence Award
• 2017: Best Investigative Journalist for West Africa; West Africa Media Excellence Award
• 2012: National Youth Achievers Award for Media Excellence
• 2014: Ghana Journalists Association Best Anti-Corruption Reporter
• 2014: Ghana Journalists Association Best Radio News Reporter
• 2013: Ghana Journalists Association Best TV News Reporter
• 2012: Ghana Journalists Association Best TV News Reporter
• 2012: Ghana Journalists Association Best Reporter on Sanitation
• 2012: Ghana Journalists Association Best Features Writer
• 2012: Overall Winner of Ideas Award of Ghanaian Achievers Under 40
• 2012: Ghana Journalists Association 1st Runner Up in Sports Reporting, 2012
• 2011: Ghana Journalists Association Best TV News Reporter
• 2011: Ghana Journalists Association Best Human Rights Reporter
• 2007: Winner: (Tertiary Level) 2007 National Emancipation Day Essay Competition,

References

1. Online, G. B. C. (5 May 2022). "Ghanaians are not surprised at where we are - Manasseh Azure". Retrieved 24 September 2022.
2. Tzabiras, Marianna (4 May 2021). "Veteran journalist Manasseh Azure to head 'The Fourth Estate'". IFEX. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
3. "Manasseh Azure Awuni finds new job 2 years after leaving Joy FM - A1 Radio Bolgatanga". 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
4. "NCA Reacts To Manasseh's Claims On 'Threats' To Shut Down Joy FM, Tame MTN". DailyGuide Network. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
5. "Manasseh is West Africa journalist of the Year; Multimedia wins big at WAMECA". My Joy Online. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
6. "Manasseh Azure Awuni wins Best Journalist for West Africa". My Joy Online. 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
7. "About Manasseh Azure Awuni". Manasseh Azure. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
8. "Minority MPs threaten to impeach Mahama over bribery allegation". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
9. "Mahama's Ford 'gift' must be investigated". OccupyGhana. Retrieved 26 March 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
10. "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.
11. Online, Peace FM. "De-Eye Group Sues Manasseh Azure, Multimedia....Seeks Damages of GHC10m". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
12. 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.
13. "Manasseh Awuni floors Joseph Siaw in court, damages awarded against the Zoomlion boss". Pulse. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
14. "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.
15. Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2017). Letters to My Future Wife. ISBN 978-9988253905.
16. Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2016). Voice of Conscience. Manasseh Azure Awuni. ISBN 978-9988-2-3799-8 – via Google Books.
17. "Investigative Journalism in Africa: A Book From the Frontlines". gijn.org. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
18. Adisa Amanor-Wilks (29 October 2017). "Seth Boateng, Manasseh, others honoured at maiden West Africa Media Excellence Awards". Ghana Web. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
19. "Manasseh Azure Awuni adjudged Integrity Personality of the Year | Ghana Integrity Awards - GIAWARDS". ghanaintegrityawards.org. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
20. Abedu-Kennedy, Dorcas (19 July 2021). "Manasseh Azure Awuni grabs top award". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
21. WAMECA Awards: Manasseh Azure Awuni crowned best journalist - AM News on JoyNews (16-11-20), retrieved 25 September 2022
22. kwaku (14 October 2018). "Winners Announced – West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2018". WAMECA - Media Foundation For West Africa. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
23. "Manasseh Azure Awuni is GJA's Journalist of the Year - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
24. "JOY FM reporter adjudged 2010 Journalist of the year". GhanaWeb. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.