By Hannah Awadzi, GNA
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA – A Ghanaian scholar based in the United States has become the first recipient of a newly established international award recognising outstanding early-career African researchers in communication studies.
Dr Nana Kwame Osei Fordjour, an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, will receive the award at the National Communication Association (NCA) Convention scheduled for November 19 to 22, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
The award, instituted by the African Communication Studies Division of the NCA, is a newly established international recognition honouring exceptional early-career African researchers in communication studies.
The National Communication Association is a non-profit scholarly organisation dedicated to promoting communication research, teaching, and practice worldwide.
Dr Osei Fordjour, who shared the news with the Ghana News Agency, said Professor Godfried Asante, Chair of the African Communication Studies Division, noted that the selection committee was impressed by his scholarly contributions and commitment to advancing communication research from an African perspective.
“The review committee was impressed by the strength and volume of Dr Osei Fordjour’s scholarship, his Africa-centred research agenda in political communication, and his service and mentorship across his department, university and the field of communication,” he said.
Dr Osei Fordjour expressed gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, family and the award organisers for their support and recognition.
“To God be all the glory. I thank Andrew Donkor, who nominated me, and Professor David Weiss, my adviser. I am also grateful to my collaborators, department and my family, who supported me throughout this journey, and to the leadership and awards committee of the African Communication Studies Division for this honour,” he said.
Dr Osei Fordjour’s research has been published in leading journals, including the International Journal of Communication, Journal of Public Relations Research, International Journal of Strategic Communication, Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research, Environmental Communication, and Communication Management Review.
His scholarship has earned Top Paper awards from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Eastern Communication Association and the Western States Communication Association.
His research focuses on political communication and employs qualitative, critical, and mixed-methods approaches, alongside machine-learning techniques.
Before joining academia, Dr Osei Fordjour worked as a strategic communication consultant for multinational organisations, non-governmental organisations, governments and political candidates across Africa.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Hannah Awadzi
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