Manasseh Azure Awuni
{{Short description|Ghanaian journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
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| nationality = Ghanaian
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| occupation = Investigative journalist
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| organization = The Fourth Estate
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Manasseh Azure Awuni is a Ghanaian investigative journalist and former founding Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate.{{Cite web |last=Online |first=G. B. C. |date=2022-05-05 |title=Ghanaians are not surprised at where we are - Manasseh Azure |url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/ghanaians-are-not-surprised-at-where-we-are-manasseh-azure/2022/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tzabiras |first=Marianna |date=2021-05-04 |title=Veteran journalist Manasseh Azure to head 'The Fourth Estate' |url=https://ifex.org/veteran-journalist-manasseh-azure-to-head-the-fourth-estate/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=IFEX |language=en-US}} He previously worked with Multimedia Group Limited in Accra, Ghana.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-24 |title=Manasseh Azure Awuni finds new job 2 years after leaving Joy FM - A1 Radio Bolgatanga |url=https://www.a1radioonline.com/37835/manasseh-azure-awuni-finds-new-job-2-years-after-leaving-joy-fm/index.html |access-date=2022-09-24 |language=en-US}}
His investigative and anti-corruption reports have caused national uproar and resulted in some government officials going to prison.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-21 |title=NCA Reacts To Manasseh's Claims On 'Threats' To Shut Down Joy FM, Tame MTN |url=https://dailyguidenetwork.com/nca-reacts-to-manassehs-claims-on-threats-to-shut-down-joy-fm-tame-mtn/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=DailyGuide Network |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2018/October-13th/manasseh-picks-topmost-award-at-wameca-multimedia-sweeps-others.php|title=Manasseh is West Africa journalist of the Year; Multimedia wins big at WAMECA|website=My Joy Online|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014034721/https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2018/October-13th/manasseh-picks-topmost-award-at-wameca-multimedia-sweeps-others.php|archivedate=14 October 2018|access-date=15 December 2021}}{{Cite news|date=15 November 2020|title=Manasseh Azure Awuni wins Best Journalist for West Africa|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/manasseh-azure-awuni-wins-best-journalist-for-west-africa/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117141422/https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/manasseh-azure-awuni-wins-best-journalist-for-west-africa/|archivedate=17 November 2020|access-date=15 December 2021|website=My Joy Online}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.manassehazure.com/about-manasseh/|title=About Manasseh Azure Awuni|publisher=Manasseh Azure|access-date=26 March 2019}}
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. 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Minority-MPs-threaten-to-impeach-Mahama-over-bribery-allegation-447974/|title=Minority MPs threaten to impeach Mahama over bribery allegation|website=GhanaWeb|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821140837/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Minority-MPs-threaten-to-impeach-Mahama-over-bribery-allegation-447974|url-status=dead}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.http://citifmonline.com/2016/06/22/mahamas-ford-gift-must-be-investigated-occupyghana/|title=Mahama's Ford 'gift' must be investigated |website=OccupyGhana|access-date=26 March 2019}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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"{{Cite news|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2019/March-7th/joy-news-reveals-the-pro-npp-militia-which-trains-at-presidency-annex.php|title=Joy News reveals: The pro-NPP militia which trains at Presidency Annex|website=My Joy Online|date=7 March 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904212817/http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2019/March-7th/joy-news-reveals-the-pro-npp-militia-which-trains-at-presidency-annex.php|archivedate=4 September 2019|access-date=15 December 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=De-Eye Group Sues Manasseh Azure, Multimedia....Seeks Damages of GHC10m |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/politics/201903/377644.php |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news}}
The De-Eye group also sued Azure and the media house.{{Cite news|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2019/03/13/de-eye-group-sues-manasseh-multimedia-demands-ghc10-m-damages/|title=De-Eye group sues Manasseh, Multimedia; demands GHC10m in damages|website=Citi News Room|author=Marian Ansah|date=13 March 2019|access-date=15 December 2021}}
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.primenewsghana.com/general-news/de-eye-group-drags-manasseh-and-multimedia-group-to-court.html|title=De-Eye group drags Manasseh and Multimedia Group to court|website=Prime News Ghana|author=Mutala Yakubu|date=13 March 2019|access-date=15 December 2021}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/fighting-corruption-manasseh-awuni-floors-joseph-siaw-in-court-damages-awarded/2q5zw1d|title=Manasseh Awuni floors Joseph Siaw in court, damages awarded against the Zoomlion boss|website=Pulse|date=6 February 2018 |access-date=26 March 2019}}
Books
- The President Ghana Never Got
- The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection and Rebound{{Cite web|title=Launch of 'The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection, Rebound'|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/entertainment/books/launch-of-the-fourth-john-reign-rejection-rebound/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026021104/https://www.myjoyonline.com/entertainment/books/launch-of-the-fourth-john-reign-rejection-rebound/|archivedate=26 October 2020|access-date=15 December 2021|website=My Joy Online|date=28 November 2019}}
- Letters to My Future Wife{{Cite book|isbn=978-9988253905|title=Letters to My Future Wife|last1=Awuni|first1=Manasseh Azure|year=2017}}
- Voice of Conscience{{Cite book|last=Awuni|first=Manasseh Azure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YvrAQAACAAJ|title=Voice of Conscience|date=2016|publisher=Manasseh Azure Awuni|isbn=978-9988-2-3799-8|via=Google Books}}
- Investigative Journalism in Africa{{Cite web |title=Investigative Journalism in Africa: A Book From the Frontlines |url=https://gijn.org/investigative-journalism-in-africa-a-book-from-the-frontlines/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=gijn.org |language=en-US}}
Awards
Manasseh is a recipient of several awards:{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Seth-Boateng-Manasseh-others-honoured-at-maiden-West-Africa-Media-Excellence-Awards-595156|title=Seth Boateng, Manasseh, others honoured at maiden West Africa Media Excellence Awards|website=Ghana Web|author=Adisa Amanor-Wilks|date=29 October 2017|access-date=15 December 2021}}
- 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{{Cite web |title=Manasseh Azure Awuni adjudged Integrity Personality of the Year {{!}} Ghana Integrity Awards - GIAWARDS |url=https://ghanaintegrityawards.org/newsarticles/manasseh-azure-awuni-adjudged-integrity-personality-of-the-year/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ghanaintegrityawards.org}}
- 2021: Millennium Excellence Award for Media Excellence{{Cite web |last=Abedu-Kennedy |first=Dorcas |date=2021-07-19 |title=Manasseh Azure Awuni grabs top award |url=https://www.adomonline.com/manasseh-azure-awuni-grabs-top-award/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Adomonline.com |language=en-US}}
- 2021: 2nd Prize for Norbert Zongo Africa Investigative Journalism Award
- 2020: Overall Best Journalist for West Africa, West Africa Media Excellence Award{{Citation |title=WAMECA Awards: Manasseh Azure Awuni crowned best journalist - AM News on JoyNews (16-11-20) | date=16 November 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIklO0FTm8Y |language=en |access-date=2022-09-25}}
- 2018: Overall Best Journalist for West Africa, West Africa Media Excellence Award{{Cite web |last=kwaku |date=2018-10-14 |title=Winners Announced – West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2018 |url=https://www.mfwa.org/wameca/winners-announced-west-africa-media-excellence-awards-2018/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=WAMECA - Media Foundation For West Africa |language=en-GB}}
- 2012: 2011 Ghana Journalists Association Best Journalist of the Year{{Cite web |date=2012-08-26 |title=Manasseh Azure Awuni is GJA's Journalist of the Year - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/manasseh-azure-awuni-is-gjas-journalist-of-the-year/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}
- 2011: 2010 Ghana Journalists Association Most Promising Journalist of the Year{{Cite web |date=10 September 2011 |title=JOY FM reporter adjudged 2010 Journalist of the year |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/JOY-FM-reporter-adjudged-2010-Journalist-of-the-year-218339 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}
- 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
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Category:Ghanaian radio journalists
Category:Ghanaian investigative journalists
Category:University of Ghana alumni