A lot has been happening since I last came your way. To catch up on some, I have decided to put them in a pot and pour out to you- Potpourri (a mixture of things).
My first GJA vote
For the first time in my nearly three decades of practicing journalism, I voted in the National Executive election organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and I voted for President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour (AKD).
This is in spite of the fact that his sole contender, Charles Mawusi, was my mate for 3 years at GIMPA, while I had no form of acquaintance with Dwumfour.
I took the decision to be part of the 64% of the voters who decided to retain AKD for 3 more years because in one of these articles of mine, I cautioned him during the ‘wee hours’ of his first tenure not to make those who entrusted the Association to him instead of Gayheart Mensah, regret their action. And he listened.
Here is the concluding part of my article titled “How my favourite ‘Di asa’ show won the Akan TV Programme of the Year.”
“Truth be told. This is not the first time ‘Di Asa’ has won a GJA award. At the 24th awards ceremony in 2019, it won the best entertainment programme on television. Deservedly so. Because the concept is unique, thus out of this world. The show also has the mass appeal which has inundated it with so many adverts.
How it became the Best Radio/TV programme (Akan) at the 26th GJA awards ceremony is what I am struggling to understand. Could it be that under the GJA presidency of Mr. Albert Dwumfuor (Head of Corporate Affairs at Tobinco Group of Companies/Managing Director of Atinka FM), Atinka Media Village must win awards at all cost? A special award whose basis is not too clear and a reality dance competition being adjudged as Best Radio/TV programme (Akan)?
Our elders say, he who cuts the path, does not see how crooked it is. I trust that these observations of mine, will be accepted in good faith. Otherwise, if there is information that I should have had access to, which I did not, someone please let me have it.
I have alluded to all the positives that I saw in the organisation of the 26th GJA awards. I have also taken note of the refurbishment of the Press Centre, all within this record short period (barely five months) of Mr. Dwumfuor’s assumption of the GJA presidency.
Having said that, it is my wish that these little things I observed would be avoided going forward. This is not the way to continue from Affail Monney’s presidency. Lest you get people asking, ‘did we go or did we come?’”
So AKD went on to do more in the last three years, including securing the hosting rights for the Africa Media Convention in Ghana in 2024. Since then, I have heard non-member journalists speaking about their growing love for the GJA. It is my hope, once again, that Mr Dwumfuor will use the next three years to do more for journalism in Ghana. Go on, Mr President!
What happened to networking?
About halfway through my career as a journalist, I got introduced to this concept of networking- the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
At various events, people distributed their call or complimentary cards for future contacts. It worked perfectly. So much so that at workshops and training programmes when phone contacts are collected for networking purposes, it was such a welcome gesture. One was sure that these new acquaintances will offer the needed help or information once a request is made and vice versa.
Then technology advanced. Social media became the ‘ish’. Long-lost friends and classmates began appearing on your timeline as people you may know. Someone mooted the idea of old school WhatsApp platform, it caught on like wild fire. Suddenly, you are in touch with your primary, middle (for those of us in the old school), secondary and tertiary school mates. All for the purpose of ‘networking.’
But there is a growing trend that makes one wonder what happened to the objective of networking. That’s because when one needs help from these ‘networked’ acquaintances, you hit a snag. Not help as in looking for money, but help as in needing some information or reference or guidance on something. You send a WhatsApp message, it ticks blue yet there is no response. You call- the number you have dialed has not responded, try again later.
You proceed to introduce yourself elaborately on WhatsApp, still no response. Some have even activated vanishing messages. Such that 24 hours later, the chat record between the two of you is no longer visible. What happened to the Ga adage that translates- “the left hand baths the right and vice versa?” or the Akan version that translates “a rope climbs to the top through a tree?”
I agree. Human beings can be cantankerous and even dangerous. However, it is a time-tested truism that we need each other to succeed in this temporary arrangement called life. Unfortunately, when some of us succeed, we tell ourselves that we will not let others disturb our peace. How fair is that?
Anyway, there are still some good networked paddies around. Over the years, they have been of help just as I have been to them. A recent example is Dr Nii Ayiku Ayiku. When I prompted him about my need for an ECG meter for a project, pronto! He hooked me up. Thanks Nii.
Charlotte Osei’s advice to the late Prof JEA Mills
So soon, it has been 13 years since Prof John Evans Atta Mills died while in office as President of Ghana.
A week-long celebration was held to mark this anniversary. One event that was held as part of this commemoration was a public lecture. The Keynote Speaker at this lecture happened to be Mrs Charlotte Osei, a former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
From all she said about her relationship with Prof Mills, one can surmise that he was her Godfather. So, one day, not long before his passing, she paid a visit and Prof complained about some issues that have been raised in the media that bothered him so much.
According to Mrs Osei, he advised Prof Mills to stop paying attention to issues discussed in the media.
“Before I end this lecture, I would like to recount my last meeting with Prof. This was a couple of months before he passed on. With the help of Col Attachie and Col Lawson, I had managed to sneak past Mr. Martey Newman and Mr. Bebaako-Mensah to go see Prof and fight for some additional resources for the NCCE election year activities.
Prof was not happy that day due to vicious media attacks, some from people who knew him better. I told him he shouldn’t be reading or listening to the media, that he needed to detach completely,” Mrs Osei recounted proudly.
I have heard this issue of Presidents being advised not to monitor the media. I did not believe it. That’s because in my small corner as a journalist, I cannot imagine how I can live through a day without listening to radio or watching TV. How would I know the concerns of the people in order to set the agenda for the powers that be to act accordingly?
Well, if Mrs Osei’s advice to the late President is the norm for our presidents, it explains why despite our loud lamentations in this country, ex President Akufo-Addo could mount podiums and read speeches that did not reflect the many issues raised in the media by the suffering masses.
Somehow, last week when the legendary highlife musician, Daddy Lumba died, Nana was the second prominent politician to post a tribute in his honour. Guess who posted first? Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
My point is, I guess because Nana Addo has now lifted the embargo on listening to the media placed on him, he heard about the sad news that had circulated widely and promptly reacted as expected.
On the other hand, it took President Mahama, University of Ghana’s School of Communication Studies trained, card-bearing member of the GJA, chief servant of the people of Ghana, 24 hours to make a post. Could it be that he has also been advised to “detach completely” from the media?
For which reason he did not hear about the sad news that spread across the globe like wild fire from the morning of Saturday July 26 until 8:12am on Sunday July 27, 2025 when he posted his condolence? More so, when barely three weeks earlier, he and the late Lumba had exchanged pleasantries at the state dinner held to mark our 65th Republican anniversary?
Some will say he could not have acted on social media rumours. That’s fair. But what about the fact that the family, through DL’s lawyers, confirmed his demise by 1:43pm on July 26?
It’s time to go
Clearly, these are different, unrelated issues. But in my opinion, there is a common theme that runs through them- care for your fellow human.
Albert Dwumfuor for journalists, ‘Networking’ for friends, schoolmates and professional colleagues and presidential media listening habits in the interest of the people.
‘Ubuntu’ is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It is often described as reminding us that ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’.
Somehow, this truism gets lost when some of us assume positions of power. Well, this piece is supposed to serve as a reminder for all blue-ticking acquaintances who find themselves in positions of power today that “no condition is permanent”.
If H.E John Mahama could become president before Ekow Spio-Garbrah, who was Minister when the former was his deputy, it tells you that treating people you know well, while you reign, is very important. If the young, relatively inexperienced Malik Basintale could become the head of a state agency overnight, it tells you that you cannot treat any acquaintance who seeks your help in anyway now, with disdain.
So, Albert, go on make journalists proud by improving our lot. Networked friends, colleagues and professionals, let your platforms serve the purpose. And my beautiful Charlotte, if you have told JM same thing you said to Prof Mills, please take it back for the sake of the future of NDC and Ghanaians at large.
Ma kramo (In Daddy Lumba’s voice) – That’s goodbye in Twi
Let God Lead!!! Follow Him directly, not through any human.
The writer is the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Columnist of the Year- 2022. He is the author of two books whose contents share knowledge on how anyone desirous of writing like him can do so. Eric can be reached via email [email protected]
