The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has commended award-winning investigative journalist for his work on the now dismissed Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority(PPA), Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei.
“The Commission equally commends Manasseh Azure Awuni for the public spiritedness and industry that went into the documentary he produced that kick-started this investigation as well as his cooperation with the Commission,” CHRAJ said in its report.
In 2019, Mr Azure Awuni aired a documentary titled Contracts for Sale on the alleged sale of government contracts by TDL, a company partly owned by the then boss of the PPA. He uncovered that TDL won Government contracts from the PPA where Mr Adjei was the boss and sold them to contractors willing to pay more.
The documentary led to the immediate suspension of the PPA boss by Presisdent Nana Akufo-Addo. He then referred the matter to CHRAJ and the Office of the Special Prosecutor for furhther investigations.
CHRAJ has made public its report. In it, it recommended that the suspended PPA boss be sacked outright. This has been done by the President. Mr Adjei is also likely face the Economic and Organised Crime Office(EOCO) for investigations into money laundery, following his inability to explain the source of huge sums in his account.
Many have praised Mr Azure Awuni for his selfless work as an investigative journalist in the country. His works have led to the cancellation of dubious government contracts that have saved the country millions.
