DESPITE MEDIA Journalist, Sampson Kwame Nyamekye, has been honored in the Maiden Edition of Ghana Journalists Association Excellence Awards by the Ashanti Regional Branch.

Sampson among other 16 journalists in the region was recognized for his immense contribution and consistency in the media field as far news coverage is concerned.

Details:

The plague he received at the awards night read “ your illustrious career started on the mid 2000 shortly before your graduation from journalism school, when you were regularly on the beat for Kumasi Mail, with your biggest assignment as a young reporter being the coverage of the crucial year 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections that saw the first ever peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Ghana’s post-independence history” .

The Awardee who is currently the General Manager of Hello Fm, a conglomerate of Despite Media.

According to Ashanti Regional Chapter of the GJA, Sampson’s work has impacted positively on Individuals and Communities across the country.

Background:

The Excellence awards ceremony which was held in Kumasi , Ashanti Regional Capital was the maiden edition.

Speaking to this reporter, President of the Association for Ashanti, Mr Kingsley Hope admitted that Sampson Kwame Nyamekye’s level of professionalism exhibited in his work is worth emulating by the up and coming journalists in the region and across the country.

Profile of Awardee:

Sampson Kwame Nyamekye has established himself as a consummate media and communication professional in the Ashanti Region and the entire country due to his passion for professionalism, team work, organizational efficiency and assertiveness.

This is attested by the fact that he hosts one of the most listened to programs on radio in the Ashanti Region.

His illustrious career started in mid-2000, shortly before he graduated from journalism school, when he was regularly on the beat for Kumasi Mail.

His biggest assignment as a young reporter was when he had to cover the crucial year 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections that saw the first ever peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Ghana’s post-independence history.

Working as a journalist prior to January 2001 was a challenging and scary undertaking due to some constitutional provisions such as the criminal libel law that made it a daunting task to practice as a media person.

Not discouraged by these constitutional hurdles, Sampson looked up to other senior journalists, who against all odds, had taken their journalistic game to the powers-that-be of the time.

After the change in government in 2000 and the subsequent repeal of the criminal libel law, that saw an unprecedented liberalization of the media landscape, he moved on to become the Ashanti Regional bureau chief of The Independent newspaper, which was established in the 1980s by celebrated Ghanaian journalist, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere.

Working under lawyer Egbert Faibille, Sampson succeeded in popularizing the newspaper in Kumasi and beyond by reporting on very pertinent issues that bordered on economy, politics, society and many more.

Sampson was to cut his teeth in broadcast journalism by appearing on the most popular morning show program in 2002 hosted by Kwame Adinkra on Fox Fm.

Sampson contributed to important national issues alongside other respected individuals.

It was through his deep intellectual analysis of national issues that caught the attention of recruiters from the Despite Media Group, who spotted the potentials deeply buried in him.

He was soon recruited to join the core group of professionals who established the presence of Despite Media Group in Kumasi with the creation of Hello Fm.

The station became a force to be reckoned with. And 19 years down the lane the recruiters have been proven right in deciding to offer him a position.

Sampson has since served as an anchor for all the Despite Media Group’s outlets in Accra and across the country by providing information from credible sources on all major events that happen in the Ashanti Region. He is gives live reports to UTV on all major events in Kumasi.

He currently holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree (2017) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a bachelor’s degree in business administration (2014) from University of Education. His other post-secondary qualification is a diploma in journalism and Marketing (2001) from Institute of Business Management and Journalism, Kumasi. Sampson is a former student of Ahafoman Secondary Technical School in Goaso.

To further sharpen his skills on important international issues, Sampson has attended several conferences outside the shoes of Ghana, and these include: Memphis in May International Festival , Memphis, Tennessee (May 2022), 2021 United Climate Change Conference COP26, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom ( 31st October- 13TH November 2021), 74th UN General Assembly Meeting, New York City, US (September 2019) , Asanteman Association in Denver Colorado conference, USA (August 2018), the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, China (April 2016), ContractaEngenharia Com. Ltd. and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly tour to Sau Paulo, Brazil (15th to 20th May 2015), and World Water Week Celebration, Stockholm, Sweden (August/September 2014).

Sampson’s contribution to media development in the country has not gone unnoticed and he has been the recipient of several awards that recognize the successful roles he has played in promoting professionalism and media excellence.

Some of his awards include: Africa Role Model in Journalism and Media Excellence Award ( Komla Dumor), ( 2022), Best Radio Personality of the Year 2018/19, Honouring Award for Promoting the Growth of Journalism in Ghana (2018) by the Asanteman Association of Colorado, USA, Best Radio Reporter of the Year, Ashanti Region (2017/18) and many more.

Sampson’s prowess is not limited to the media only as he has displayed exceptional managerial and organizational capabilities since assuming the role of general manager of Hello Fm.

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,

Kumasi.