Manasseh Azure

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

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.

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 . 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[when?] 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.[citation needed]

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "About Manasseh Azure Awuni". Manasseh Azure. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Minority MPs threaten to impeach Mahama over bribery allegation". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 26 March 2019.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Mahama's Ford 'gift' must be investigated". OccupyGhana. Retrieved 26 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
  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.[dead link]
  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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