Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has issued a detailed account explaining why he declined a second request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to testify in the corruption trial of former Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei.

In a statement on December 8, 2025, the journalist whose 2019 documentary “Contracts for Sale” sparked the investigations, accuses the OSP of mishandling the case, weakening charges, failing to conduct meaningful investigations and repeatedly restarting a prosecution that has dragged on for six years.

According to Manasseh, the OSP had already taken his testimony during the first trial and subjected him to cross-examination from December 2022 to April 2024. But after nearly 18 months in court, the OSP dropped all 17 charges against Adjei and a separate charge against his brother-in-law, Francis Arhin, only to file eight “fresh” charges in May 2024.

He asserted that the new charges were not new at all.

Manasseh Azure turns heat on Office of the Special Prosecutor over PPA 'Contract for Sale' case

Manasseh stated that he decided not to testify again after discovering what he described as inconsistencies and unexplained decisions from OSP officials.

“One flaw I discovered was that, apart from my investigation and the CHRAJ report, the OSP did not undertake its own criminal investigation before going to court. Apart from the money found in AB Adjei’s accounts, which Martin Amidu had uncovered before leaving office, the OSP did nothing seriously on the matter. Because journalists do not have the power of the law to demand and receive certain types of evidence, state investigative agencies ought to do more before they proceed to court. In this case, the OSP did not do that.


“During the trial, the court admitted my “Contracts for Sale” investigative documentary in evidence. The whole case started because of this documentary, which brought the issues of the PPA CEO to light. But it was later discovered that the OSP did not submit the documentary to the court. The pen drive that the OSP presented to the court as containing that evidence had some of the recordings I submitted to the Office, but it did not contain the documentary. The OSP said it was an error.


“AB Adjei’s lawyers opposed it when the prosecution applied to have it tendered in. Fortunately, the court admitted it, and I was recalled for cross-examination on this evidence. Just after that, the OSP dropped all the charges, even though the prosecutors said my testimony and cross-examination went very well. All my evidence was admitted by the court, and the defence lawyers could not puncture my testimony,” part of his statement said.

Read the full statement below:



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