Renowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni says defamation lawsuits cannot silence him in his work as a journalist.
In an interview on Starr Chat with Bola Ray, Mr. Awuni shared his experiences with defamation lawsuits against him as a journalist.
He disclosed that lawsuits against him are about nine since 2015 seven of the nine defamation lawsuits against him did not proceed to trial.
“Seven of them didn’t go to trial. When I filed my defense, those who took me to court ran away.”
Mr. Azure however emphasized the importance of constitutional remedies, encouraging individuals to seek justice through the courts.
He highlighted the constitutional remedies available to those who feel defamed.
“The Constitution of Ghana provides remedies to people who feel aggrieved. You can go to court and sue for defamation. If I tell lies about you and then you feel defamed, the law allows you to sue.”
Mr. Awuni also stated further that there were calls to his dad warning him about his style of journalism and the persons he writes about.
“My family wanted me to quit journalism after the very first investigations. Somebody told my father that they are doing it, ‘but your son, the kind of people he going after and people know him’.
“There have been occasions I even ask myself ‘it is worth it’. But sometimes you see certain things and you get so angry and outraged about it”, Mr. Awuni stated.
He continued: “I also have this feeling that if we all say we are afraid we are not going to do anything about our predicaments when the reality hits all of us we will be endangered”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Tracy Afia Ahensima Danso
