Management of The Multimedia Group has set the records straight on how Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, exited the employment of the company in 2019, explaining that he was not sacked.

"We wish to clarify that Manasseh was not sacked from The Multimedia Group. He resigned of his own accord at the end of July 2019 after serving the necessary notice and going through all exit protocols per company policy," a statement issued by the company said.

Background

On Saturday, August 3, 2019, Manasseh Azure Awuni announced that he was no longer working with The Multimedia Group.

The announcement came barely a week after the National Media Commission (NMC) described the “Militia in the Heart of the Nation” he authored for JoyNews, a subsidiary of Multimedia Group as misleading and a misrepresentation.

The 22-minute documentary alleged that a group, D-Eye, had been training and operating at the Christiansburg Castle at Osu in Accra, which is a "security zone" with the complicity of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-led government.

The government condemned the documentary, filed a petition against JoyNews at NMC, and asked for an order for a retraction and an apology.

Prior to this, management of the media firm had issued an apology.

“Our documentary did not create any such impression, and I think it’s important to stress that point," said Malik Daabu, editor of Myjoyonline. "All our documentary did was to report on what was happening… the only thing our documentary mentioned was that the person who was leading this group was a former bodyguard of the president when he was not president.”

“He (Nana Akufo-Addo) was an ordinary citizen, a candidate of a political party. Our documentary actually pointed out that this person had been sacked so the unfortunate impression created that the president was nursing these guys while at the same time condemning this was not the basis of our documentary, and it’s important to state that any such impressions or inconvenience caused the president is regretted."

But announcing his resignation, Manasseh expressed his utmost gratitude to his former employers, colleagues and everyone who has been helpful to him.

In a post on his social media pages, the award winning journalist wrote; “I wish to announce my resignation from The Multimedia Group.

"I thank management of company for the opportunity to work with what in my view is the most credible, influential, impactful and daring media organistion in Ghana. I thank them for their support and encouragement all these years. It is no doubt that if I were to work again in a media house in Ghana, I would choose The Multimedia Group.

"I also wish to thank all who have supported me in diverse ways since November 2012 when I joined The Multimedia Group. To the audience of The Multimedia Group and the sources who helped me in my work, I am eternally grateful.

"I will continue to serve Ghana as a freelance investigative journalist and dedicate more time to the writing of books."