Irbard to Manasseh: Apologise for gaffe

International Relations and Security Expert, Irbard Ibrahim, has advised Joy FM’s Mannasseh Azure Awuni to render an unqualified apologise to President John Dramani Mahama over false claims he took a bribe, a Ford Expedition SUV, from a Burkinabe businessman in 2012 in exchange for contracts.

The security expert has also pleaded with government not to take legal action against the one-time journalist of the year for the reckless manner he sought to tarnish the image of the President.

“I plead with Government not to take legal action against Manasseh Azure. He's a fine gentleman with a lot of prospects. I have ever sat on Joy FM with him and I have seen him around on countless occasions I have been invited for both TV and Radio interviews at Multimedia. His modest demeanour shows he's a humble person. I humbly advise him to render an unqualified apology to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. To err is human and to forgive is divine. As youth, let's eat humble pie and move on anytime we go wrong. It takes nothing away from us but rather makes us stronger and prepares us better for the future” the Peace Ambassador told the media.

Speaking on Radio Gold's current affairs programme, the political talking point, Irbaard Ibrahim described the story as “a desperate political move of retrospective vendetta,” describing the so-called exposé as irrational and not a 'killer punch' that can win anybody power.

Stressing his point further, the Peace Ambassador advised Manasseh, who is a senior journalist at Joy FM, to as a matter of urgency apologise to the President for the gaffe.

Cautioning the opposition to be guided in their utterances, Mr Ibrahim called on them to structure an appealing message that can win the party votes from Ghanaians or risk suffering the worst defeat since 1992 when the country goes to the polls on November 7, adding that “The opposition misfired on Komenda and is misfiring again,” he added

Interestingly, Joy FM, the Multimedia platform where Manasseh Azure works, chose to put out the story against the President only on the day he lost his mother and was in grief.

The story, which has since generated extensive public discussions, indicated that in 2012, President Mahama received a Ford Expedition vehicle from one Djibril Kanazoe, a Burkinabe contractor in the form of a gift, but that the said gift constituted bribery and therefore the President is culpable of corruption.

Many an objective voice has however indicated that Awuni and Joy FM went too far this time in pushing their regime change agenda against President Mahama and his government.