Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has expressed frustration over what he describes as Ghana’s persistent accountability deficit, saying it is disheartening to spend years exposing wrongdoing only for many cases to end without anyone being held responsible.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme, Manasseh said there have been moments in his career when he questioned whether investigative journalism was worth the sacrifices, particularly when compelling evidence fails to result in meaningful action.
“There have been times in my life when I have asked myself whether it is even worth it,” he said.
He added that it is deeply frustrating when “everybody knows that wrong has been done,” yet no individual or institution is ultimately held accountable.
According to the award-winning journalist, investigative reporting often comes at a significant personal cost, requiring years of painstaking research, extensive documentation and considerable personal risk.
Manasseh noted that several investigations he has conducted, despite being supported by documentary evidence, have yielded little or no tangible action from the relevant authorities.
Commenting on a recent Court of Appeal judgment, he said the decision offered important lessons for investigators, prosecutors and investigative journalists on the need to strengthen the collection, presentation and preservation of evidence.
While he agreed with certain aspects of the court’s reasoning, he admitted that he found other portions of the judgment difficult to reconcile with the prosecution’s case, particularly on issues relating to procurement.
In his view, some aspects of the ruling appeared to favour the defence. However, he emphasised that he was expressing a personal opinion as a layperson rather than offering a legal interpretation of the judgment.
Manasseh said the case should serve as a catalyst for reform, urging institutions responsible for investigations and prosecutions to improve their work so that genuine cases of wrongdoing are not undermined by avoidable weaknesses.
He stressed that stronger investigations and prosecutions are essential if public confidence in accountability and the justice system is to be restored.
