Celebrated Ghanaian investigative journalist and anti-corruption crusader Manasseh Azure Awuni has praised President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as a consistent commitment to accountability and responsiveness to investigative journalism.
In a Facebook post on Sunday November 2, 2025, titled “The Mahama Factor in My Work,” Manasseh highlighted several instances in which the President acted decisively on corruption investigations he had led over the years.
“In June this year, President John Dramani Mahama announced the discontinuation of the 19-year-old fraudulent contract between the Youth Employment Agency and Zoomlion Ghana Limited,” Manasseh wrote. “I had been fighting that unconscionable deal for 12 years. The contract was worth GHS456 million a year.”
The journalist also cited another instance in July 2025 when his team uncovered irregularities in a contract signed by the Ghana Airports Company Limited just three days before the 2024 general election.
“An investigation I led revealed how the Ghana Airport Company signed a dubious revenue assurance contract with a mining company owned by the SML CEO,” he said. “That contract was cancelled as a result of the investigation. Thankfully, no money had been paid in this shady deal to the company, which had only one worker but deployed SML staff to implement the project.”
Manasseh further noted that in October 2025, President Mahama ordered the Finance Minister to terminate a $500 million contract between the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), describing it as “dubious.”
He commended the President for providing what he called a “conducive atmosphere” for journalists to operate freely and for taking concrete actions that validated the work of investigative reporters.
“Besides the conducive atmosphere, which President Mahama has often afforded journalists like me to do our work, there is no greater motivation and encouragement to investigative journalists than acting on their work,” he stated. “If you reject obscene bribes and risk your life and those of your family, you expect duty bearers to do their part.”
Recalling one of the most impactful moments of his career, Manasseh referred to the GYEEDA scandal, his first major investigative story that led to prosecutions, job losses, and significant policy reforms.
“President Mahama did a similar thing on my very first investigative story, the GYEEDA Scandal,” he said. “Two people went to jail and some lost their jobs; more than 10 contracts were cancelled, saving Ghana over $100 million; and a law, the Youth Employment Agency Act, was passed as part of sweeping reforms to stop the bleeding.”
While expressing gratitude, Manasseh also hinted that his professional duty may require him to criticise the President again in the future.
“Mr. President, I will likely demand more and criticise you in the future, but I want you to know that should I ever write the story of my journalism and anti-corruption crusade, you will feature in its glorious pages,” he concluded.
Source: www.KumasiMail.Com/JosephZiem
