Manasseh Azure Awuni is a celebrated investigative journalist
Celebrated investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has stated that he is ready to defend his work in court following a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
In a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, February 24, 2025, he asserted, “I have never run away from any suit. I am a law-abiding citizen and will avail myself to defend my work, which has saved Ghana hundreds of millions of dollars and resulted in reforms and successful prosecutions.”
Manasseh explained that despite the writ being filed on November 1, 2024, he has yet to be officially served.
“It is important to note that the writ was filed on November 1, 2024, almost four months ago, but I have not been served yet.
“The publications are made in the wake of the Special Prosecutor’s announcement that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is being investigated over the SML deal and other alleged corruption-related cases,” he noted.
The journalist emphasised that SML’s grievance stems from his book, ‘The President Ghana Never Got’, in which he referred to the SML contract as the biggest scam under the erstwhile political administration.
“That section of my book details some major scandals in the Akufo-Addo administration.
“The company is aggrieved by references to the SML deal as ‘the biggest scam’, ‘the SML scandal’ and ‘shady.’ It is also aggrieved that I referred to its claims of savings made, and services rendered as ‘falsehood’ and a ‘lie'”, he stated.
Manasseh dismissed claims that he was evading service, clarifying that he has been in the United States since August 2024.
He pointed out that in a previous lawsuit filed by SML in February 2024, the court served him through substituted service, a method that could have been used again in the current case.
“The editor of an online portal told me on Saturday that someone called to offer him money to publish the story, and he declined. When he asked why, the person claimed I was evading service of the writ.
“It must be put on record that I have been in the United States since August 2024, and this is public knowledge. Besides, SML had sued the Media Foundation for West Africa and me in February 2024 for the publication of the SML scandal,” he noted.
Reaffirming his commitment to upholding investigative journalism, he maintained, “That notwithstanding, I have instructed my lawyers to take steps to have the writ served on me so that I can defend myself in court.”
Manasseh Azure has been sued by Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) over claims made in his book, ‘The President Ghana Never Got’, regarding the company.
SML accuses Manasseh of publishing defamatory content, particularly in Chapter 28, titled “The Mother of All Scandals.”
In a writ of summons filed at the High Court of General Jurisdiction, SML asserts that the journalist misrepresented facts with the deliberate intent to tarnish its reputation.
“The Plaintiff avers that, notwithstanding the pending defamation suit, the Defendant, in Chapter 28 of his book The President Ghana Never Got, discusses the Plaintiff’s contract with the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in a chapter titled ‘The Mother of All Scandals’. The Plaintiff says that in Chapter 28, the Defendant makes several non-factual statements that tarnish the Plaintiff’s reputation and have caused right-thinking members of society to shun the Plaintiff,” the write said.
Additionally, the journalist allegedly described statements and projections made by SML regarding its contracts as “falsehoods” and “a lie” and labeled the agreement “needless” and “redundant.”
The company contends that these allegations severely damaged its reputation, leading to public backlash and the loss of potential contracts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.
SML is seeking GH¢1,000,000 in general damages for defamation, GH¢20,000,000 in exemplary damages for what it describes as malicious reporting, a perpetual injunction restraining Manasseh from publishing further defamatory statements about the company, a public retraction and apology for Chapter 28 of his book and any other reliefs the court deems fit.
Read Manasseh Azure Awuni’s post below:
JKB/AE
Meanwhile, watch as Parliament vets Minister of State-designate for Public Sector Reforms below: