Top 10 Ghanaian journalists who went into politics
This list takes a look at some top 10 Ghanaian media persons who dropped the mic and pen and went into politics
Journalists’ careers have always been inextricably linked with politics.
Even so, today’s top-notch journalists who are also regarded as highly influential risk-takers occasionally transition into politics.
Here is a list of 10 noteworthy names from Ghana.
1. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The journalist-cum-politician Kojo Oppong Nkrumah formerly worked as a broadcaster at Joy FM, a station under the Multimedia Group, where he hosted the Super Morning Show.
He is currently the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi in the Eastern Region and the Minister of Information.
2. Kojo Frimpong
The former journalist and television personality Kojo Frimpong ran for election as the MP for Wenchi but lost.
Frimpong was seeking to represent the people of Wenchi in Parliament on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party but lost the contest for the NPP nomination to Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour.
However, he grabbed a juicy appointment at the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
3. Obuobia Darko-Opoku
Obuobia is a Ghanaian politician, journalist and philanthropist. She is a former parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Weija-Gbawe.
She used to host the TV Africa morning show, Breakfast Live, along with the actresses Nikki Samonas and Khadijat. She is also the host of Pause for Three Minutes, a motivational show that was nominated for a LEAD Series merit award in 2017.
In the 2012 and 2016 general elections, she ran for the Weija-Gbawe parliamentary seat and lost.
In 2019, she was appointed by the NDC to be the party’s deputy national communications director. Until the NDC lost the 2016 elections, she was the deputy CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority.
4. Kabral Blay-Amihere
He worked as a journalist for 25 years before moving to the world of diplomacy.
During this period, he edited a number of publications in Ghana and was publisher and editor of the Independent, established in 1989. He also contributed to many international publications.
Blay-Amihere was at one time general secretary and president of the Ghana Journalists’ Association, president of the West African Journalists’ Association, and an executive member of both the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association and the International Federation of Journalists.
A former director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and part-time lecturer at Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, he is currently the chairman of the National Media Commission of Ghana, a constitutional body charged with promoting a free and responsible press in Ghana.
5. Elizabeth Akua Ohene
Ohene began her career as a journalist at the Daily Graphic. She became the first woman in Africa to edit a major national daily newspaper in 1979, when she was appointed to take charge of the Graphic.
After going into exile in 1982, Ohene became a key member of the award-winning BBC Focus on Africa team and the deputy editor of the BBC’s Africa Service.
She eventually went into politics and served as the spokesperson to President John Agyekum Kufuor immediately after the handover from the Jerry Rawlings-led civilian government of 1993-2001.
Ohene later became the minister of state for tertiary education, science and sports under President Kufuor.
6. Gideon Aryeequaye
Aryeequaye was head of news at ETV and the former host of Ghana’s Most Beautiful on TV3.
In October 2016 he was appointed the director of the Ghana Tourism Authority by John Dramani Mahama but was asked to step down in 2017 by President Akufo-Addo following the change in government.
He veered away from the inky fraternity into politics when he first contested the parliamentary seat in Weija-Gbawe in 2008, but lost in the National Democratic Congress primaries.
He again ran for office in 2012 in Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom, also in Greater Accra, but lost his bid to represent the NDC.
7. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton
Francisca Ashietey-Odunton is Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey.
Before her appointment as an ambassador, the celebrated news anchor was deputy director general of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
She previously served as Ghana’s high commissioner to Kenya from 2017 to 2020.
8. Stan Dogbe
Stan Dogbe was a producer of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, a marketing communications specialist, and now an aide to the former president John Dramani Mahama.
He now runs Woezor TV and PR firm.
9. Alhassan Suhuyini
Suhuyini’s journalism career began when he started work as a radio presenter at Diamond FM in Tamale. He then moved to Accra.
Suhuyini had brief stints with Citi FM and Metro TV in Accra before settling with Radio Gold. He was voted Talk Show Host of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013 by radio listeners in the Ghana Radio and Television Personality Awards.
He is now an MP representing the Tamale North constituency.
10. Alhassan Bashir (ABA) Fuseini
Fuseini is the MP for Sagnarigu in the Northern Region and a former journalist.
He also holds a postgraduate diploma from the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, and is a member of the National Democratic Congress.
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