Africa-Press – Ghana. Ghana’s media journey reflects the freedoms fought for, the democratic space opened, and the discipline that sustainable development demands now.
It is a journey shaped by conviction, courage and an enduring belief in the power of voices that refuse to be silenced.
The honour of receiving the Transformative Leadership recognition at the 15th edition of the RTP Awards is profoundly humbling. It is more than an acknowledgement of a career; it is a mirror reflecting a journey forged through struggle, sacrifice and a commitment to purposeful communication.
In the early 1990s, Ghana was learning to breathe again. Democracy was fragile and tentative, a delicate experiment in freedom. The airwaves were tightly controlled, and public conversations cautious, almost whispered. To speak boldly was to risk everything, yet development without free expression is hollow, and freedom without responsibility is dangerous.
The Breakfast Show became this author’s frontline, an entry into a media landscape still learning to breathe. What now appears routine – a morning programme dissecting politics, the economy and society – was revolutionary then. Nothing like it existed.
Guided by a deliberate editorial vision, the programme introduced structured political debate, direct citizen engagement and real-time policy interrogation, laying foundations that later became standard practice across Ghana’s broadcast media.
Authorities were wary, audiences were cautious, yet the programme pressed forward deliberately, stretching boundaries, normalising debate and demonstrating that Ghanaians could disagree publicly without tearing the nation apart.
For the first time, Ministers sat across critics, policymakers faced ordinary citizens, and ideas were tested live on air. The programme did more than report; it demonstrated what was possible. It opened the airwaves not just with words, but with proof that a society could argue, question and challenge itself, and emerge stronger.
At the same time, the work took on a broader, continental dimension with the appointment of this author as Head of Africa at Turner Broadcasting System, then owners of CNN. That position offered a rare vantage point and a heavy responsibility.
From within a global media institution, this author championed initiatives that expanded Africa’s editorial footprint, deepened local production partnerships and amplified African business, governance and innovation stories on a global platform.
It became evident how Africa was often spoken about without being allowed to speak for itself. Media across the continent remained tightly controlled, stifling not only expression, but also investment, innovation and development.
At the time, many African governments viewed media as a tool for control, not as a marketplace of ideas or opportunity. A different possibility was evident. CNN became a platform to advocate, influence and open doors.
In engagements with policymakers, regulators, investors and journalists, a simple but radical idea was advanced: Africa’s media industry had to be freed if the continent was to progress. From Cairo to Cape Town, and from Accra to Nairobi, the argument was consistent – independent media was not a threat to stability, but a foundation for accountability, credibility and growth.
Within CNN itself, this author initiated and led the strategic push for African-led programming, culminating in the creation of Inside Africa, a weekly magazine programme that became one of CNN’s longest-running shows, proving that Africa could narrate itself, not merely be narrated.
Three decades later, that vision has largely been realised. Ghana’s airwaves are open, Africa’s media landscape is vibrant, and everyone now has a platform. Yet, with this openness has emerged a new and sobering challenge.
Alongside serious journalism and informed debate, self-proclaimed prophets, mallams and soothing soothsayers command growing audiences. Airwaves once fiercely contested to hold power accountable are increasingly used to spread fear, superstition, intolerance and false hope. Sensationalism often travels faster than substance, while emotion frequently drowns out evidence.
This raises a difficult but necessary question: what has been done with the freedom that was fought for?
Despite the plural media space, some of Ghana’s deepest challenges appear more pronounced. Tribalism enjoys regular airtime. Religious intolerance easily finds microphones.
The certainty that guaranteed free speech and a vigorous media would ensure good governance now collides with persistent corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
This is troubling because freedom was never the final destination. Development was. Comparisons with parts of South and East Asia, where media operates under tighter controls yet development is rapid and disciplined, demand honest introspection. Perhaps progress is not defined by how loud or varied voices are, but by how responsibly they are used.
For Ghanaians, patriotism is spoken of passionately, yet time management remains a struggle. Corruption is publicly denounced, yet privately excused. Hard work is praised, but shortcuts are too often rewarded. Discipline in governance, public service and everyday life remains elusive.
The media must, therefore, evolve again. If the first chapter was about opening the airwaves, this chapter must be about using them wisely.
Voices must now ask harder questions, not only of government, but also of society itself – questions about productivity, integrity and national purpose.
The struggle for free expression was necessary. The struggle for responsible freedom is now essential.
There remains reason for hope. Ghana has shown Africa that democracy can work. If powerful voices align with strong values, the next 30 years will not simply be louder, but better.
May the nation continue to speak. Above all, may it build, so that no Ghanaian child goes to bed hungry, no child is left behind, and those entrusted with power see themselves as custodians, not owners.
May integrity lead, not the overnight accumulation of wealth. And may freedom ultimately serve the future owed to the next generation.
Source: Ghana News Agency
