Manasseh Azure Awuni bio: hometown, family, career, exposés, books
Manasseh Azure Awuni's name is synonymous with investigative journalism in Ghana. This is because of several mind-boggling issues, especially in the corridors of power, which he has used his journalistic skills to shed light on. As a freelance journalist, his wealth of experience has taken him beyond his country's shores and given him a voice internationally.
Source: Twitter
Manasseh's reports have caused national uproars and landed some government officials in prison due to their corrupt acts. Since he started practising, the unequalled journalist has been decorated with several awards, including West Africa Media Excellence Award's Overall Best Journalist for West Africa. Besides his career, he enjoys speaking at anti-corruption seminars and youth programmes.
Manasseh Azure Awuni profile
- Full name: Manasseh Azure Awuni
- Nickname: The Bongo boy
- Year of birth: 1985
- Place of birth: Bongo, Upper East Region, Ghana
- Nationality: Ghanaian
- Education: University of Ghana and Ghana Institute of Journalism
- Profession: Investigative journalist
Early life
Manasseh was born in Bongo in the Upper East Region, Ghana. He later moved to Kete-Krachi in the Volta Region, where his father worked as a night watchman. There, the investigative journalist and staunch anti-corruption crusader completed his secondary education at Krachi Senior High School.
Additionally, he had his first degree in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Then, he bagged his Master's degree at the University of Ghana in Communication Studies.
While growing up, he faced a lot of challenging situations, including poverty, deprivation, and hopelessness, because of the state of things with the family he comes from.
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However, he has risen above all odds and even became a voice for the oppressed and downtrodden. Also, he has become a role model for many Ghanaian youths.
Career
Sometimes referred to as The Bongo boy, Manasseh is known for his controversial investigative and anti-corruption reports. He started working as a freelance journalist with a focus on reporting rural events.
He used the opportunity to highlight the plight of the poor and the vulnerable in society. For his outstanding contribution to society, he was decorated with the Most Promising Young Journalist of the year award in 2010 by the Ghana Journalists Association.
In November 2012, Manasseh joined the Multimedia Group Limited and worked with Joy FM. So far, he has had the privilege of training others and attending conferences within and outside the country. During the training of selected West African journalists in 2014 on tracking contracts and stopping corruption, he was a resource person.
Source: Twitter
Additionally, the Tax Justice Network Africa invited him in June 2014 to train journalists in Nairobi, Kenya, on how corruption could be stopped in the tax sector. He spoke during the journalists' training which the Financial Transparency Coalition, Prakarsa, and Transparency International, Indonesia, organised in October 2015.
However, it was disheartening to some of Manasseh's audience when he resigned from his appointment with the Kokomlemle-based media house of Multimedia Group. There were speculations on why he resigned. Most sources said it was because his employer apologised on the "Militia in the Heart of the Nation" he authored for JoyNews, which the National Media Commission (NMC) described as misleading and a misrepresentation.
Awards
As published on Manasseh Azure Awuni website, the following are some awards that the reputable journalist has received so far:
- 2018 West Africa Media Excellence Award for Best Anti-Corruption Journalist for West Africa
- 2018 West Africa Media Excellence Award for Overall Best Journalist for West Africa
- 2017 West Africa Media Excellence Award for Best Investigative Journalist for West Africa
- 2013 Ghana Journalists Association Award for Best Radio News Reporter
- 2013 Ghana Journalists Association Award for Best Anti-Corruption Reporter
- 2012 National Youth Achievers Award for Media Excellence
- 2012 Ghana Journalists Association Award for Best TV News Reporter
- 2012 Overall Winner of Ideas Award of Ghanaian Achievers Under 40
Exposés
Manasseh Azure exposés are part of the reasons why he has remained controversial. For instance, he conducted a comprehensive investigation in 2013 into GYEEDA's operations and revealed mindblowing fraudulent activities in the institution.
Consequently, the policy guiding the running of the agency changed, Parliament passed a law to regulate the operations of GYEEDA, and most of the contracts of the agency with service providers were cancelled.
Source: Twitter
Similarly, the award-winning fearless journalist conducted an investigation and unveiled massive financial misconduct, mismanagement, and project failure that the Savannah Accelerated Development Programme (SADA) was undergoing.
His report helped the new SADA managers to restructure, rebrand, and also reposition the programme to achieve its purpose of creation.
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Another exposé conducted in June 2017 revealed that Talent Discovery Limited won some government contracts through restrictive tendering. His report also showed that the company engaged in selling contracts.
Manasseh Azure books
As a prolific writer, Manasseh has authored some books, including the following:
The Voice of Conscience
The book is a collection of some articles he wrote on obituary, politics, anti-corruption, and topical national issues.
Letters to My Future Wife
This is also a collection of intriguing letters that a young man supposedly wrote to a woman with whom he hopes to spend the rest of his life. The topics are sensitive issues that could build or break relationships.
The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection, and Rebound
The focus of the book is on the fourth presidency of Ghana's Fourth Republic. In it, he modelled democracy on the continent through the interviews he had with key figures of the governing party. Also, he analysed political leaders and the environment they find themselves in.
Family
The highly respected investigative journalist is a family man. Manasseh Azure Awuni wife is Rebecca Eduafo-Abraham.
Manasseh Azure Awuni contact
In case you want to contact the freelance journalist, you can fill a form on his official website or link up with him on his social media platforms.
Manasseh Azure Awuni is one of the gifted minds in Ghana. His passion for seeing a corrupt-free society and being a voice for the poor and the vulnerable have imparted his writings. Even though he is not currently working for any organisation, he remains committed to freelancing and book writing.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on Yaw Dabo, a successful entrepreneur in Ghana. The article discusses his background, girlfriend, and how much he is worth, currently.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
