Freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what he describes as poor handling of the case involving the former Public Procurement Authority (PPA) CEO. He said the prosecution’s approach is turning the matter into “a foolish case.”
Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Friday, December 6, Manasseh voiced frustration over delays and procedural lapses that, in his view, weaken the effectiveness of the prosecution.
“I cannot give you timelines for when this investigation will be completed, and when it is, you will know. But the way this is being handled, it is gradually becoming a foolish case,” he said.
Manasseh noted that key witnesses—including himself—are now reluctant to testify again because of the procedural setbacks, a development he believes could jeopardize the case.
His remarks follow earlier tweets in which he criticised the OSP’s mishandling of evidence. Although the court admitted the documentary Contracts for Sale as evidence, the pendrive submitted by the OSP reportedly did not contain the film—an error the office later acknowledged.
Manasseh explained that this mistake could trigger serious legal complications. “If they have to restart the case, it will depend on whether I’m willing to testify again and whether the accused person, who has already been cross-examined, is ready to begin afresh. There are many implications,” he said.
The 2019 documentary Contracts for Sale exposed then-PPA CEO A.B. Adjei for using his company, Talent Discovery Limited—incorporated in 2017—to win government contracts through restrictive tendering and then selling them to third parties. One contract worth GH¢22.3 million was even offered to a non-existent entity.
Following the exposé, President Nana Akufo-Addo suspended A.B. Adjei on August 22 over allegations of corruption and conflict of interest.
Manasseh added that he has not spoken with the Special Prosecutor since their last discussion two weeks ago, stressing that his criticism is directed at the management of the case—not the courts.
“It is not because the courts have frustrated it,” he clarified, noting that the challenges are purely administrative and procedural.
