Ghanaian journalist
Manasseh Azure Awuni
Born 1985 Nationality Ghanaian Alma mater University of Ghana, GIJ Occupation Investigative journalist Organization The Fourth Estate
Manasseh Azure Awuni , is Ghanaian investigative journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate.
[1]
[2] He previously worked with
Multimedia Group Limited in
Accra ,
Ghana .
[3]
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 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
^ Online, G. B. C. (5 May 2022).
"Ghanaians are not surprised at where we are - Manasseh Azure" . Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^ Tzabiras, Marianna (4 May 2021).
"Veteran journalist Manasseh Azure to head 'The Fourth Estate' " . IFEX . Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^
"Manasseh Azure Awuni finds new job 2 years after leaving Joy FM - A1 Radio Bolgatanga" . 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^
"NCA Reacts To Manasseh's Claims On 'Threats' To Shut Down Joy FM, Tame MTN" . DailyGuide Network . 21 July 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^
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 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2021 .
^
"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 .
^
a
b
c
"About Manasseh Azure Awuni" . Manasseh Azure. Retrieved 26 March 2019 .
^
"Minority MPs threaten to impeach Mahama over bribery allegation" . GhanaWeb . Archived from
the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2019 .
^
"Mahama's Ford 'gift' must be investigated" . OccupyGhana . Retrieved 26 March 2019 . [
permanent dead link ]
^
"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 .
^ Online, Peace FM.
"De-Eye Group Sues Manasseh Azure, Multimedia....Seeks Damages of GHC10m" . Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news . Retrieved 9 October 2023 .
^ 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 .
^
"Manasseh Awuni floors Joseph Siaw in court, damages awarded against the Zoomlion boss" . Pulse . 6 February 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019 .
^
"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 .
^ Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2017). Letters to My Future Wife .
ISBN
978-9988253905 .
^ Awuni, Manasseh Azure (2016).
Voice of Conscience . Manasseh Azure Awuni.
ISBN
978-9988-2-3799-8 – via Google Books.
^
"Investigative Journalism in Africa: A Book From the Frontlines" . gijn.org . Retrieved 9 October 2023 .
^ Adisa Amanor-Wilks (29 October 2017).
"Seth Boateng, Manasseh, others honoured at maiden West Africa Media Excellence Awards" . Ghana Web . Retrieved 15 December 2021 .
^
"Manasseh Azure Awuni adjudged Integrity Personality of the Year | Ghana Integrity Awards - GIAWARDS" . ghanaintegrityawards.org . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
^ Abedu-Kennedy, Dorcas (19 July 2021).
"Manasseh Azure Awuni grabs top award" . Adomonline.com . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
^
WAMECA Awards: Manasseh Azure Awuni crowned best journalist - AM News on JoyNews (16-11-20) , retrieved 25 September 2022
^ kwaku (14 October 2018).
"Winners Announced – West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2018" . WAMECA - Media Foundation For West Africa . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
^
"Manasseh Azure Awuni is GJA's Journalist of the Year - MyJoyOnline.com" . www.myjoyonline.com . 26 August 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
^
"JOY FM reporter adjudged 2010 Journalist of the year" . GhanaWeb . 10 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022 .