GNA Leadership

Dr Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow – Board Chairman

Dr Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow is a Communications Consultant and Research scholar with more than three decades experience. He has deep industry knowledge having worked as a television Producer/Director in public broadcasting across multiple program genres. He was until recently, a Research Fellow on the “Media, Politics and Representation in Africa” project with the University of Toronto Scarborough. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Dean of the Communications Department at the African University College of Communication, AUCC, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Communication Theory and Journalism.

He’s the immediate past Director-General and Editor-in-chief of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC, during which time he also served as the President of the African Union of Broadcasting, AUB. He has consulted on media and communications for many notable organisations both locally and internationally. He has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

His research interests are in the political economy of media/communication, journalism, broadcasting policy, screen cultures, the public(s) sphere, and the epistemological turn of archives as editorial resource.

Mr. Albert Kofi Owusu – General Manager & Member 

Mr. Albert Kofi Owusu is an accomplished Ghanaian journalist and the General Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA). With extensive experience spanning several decades in the media industry, he has built a distinguished career as a reporter, broadcaster, news editor, and programmes manager. His leadership has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of several radio and television stations across Ghana, as well as in the management of prominent online news platforms.

Mr. Owusu received professional training and attachment with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London, which later conferred on him the prestigious Best BBC Journalism Award for West Africa.

He currently serves on the Executive Council of the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA), where he contributes to the advancement and integration of national news agencies across the African continent. His expertise has also been sought at various international media conferences and professional forums.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, a Degree in Public Administration, and a Diploma in Journalism.

Under his leadership, the Ghana News Agency has regained national recognition, including winning the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Best News Website of the Year award in 2020. He has successfully led the Agency’s transformation into a modern digital news operation, overseeing the comprehensive revamping and retooling of its core systems and workflows.

This transformation has enhanced operational efficiency, improved content delivery, and repositioned the Agency within the contemporary media landscape.

Furthermore, Mr. Owusu has facilitated the expansion of GNA’s international partnerships, strengthening cooperation with allied media institutions and press agencies across Africa and beyond.

Mr. Owusu remains a staunch advocate for media freedom and professional ethics and has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at strengthening journalism and safeguarding press freedom in Ghana.

Professor Adwoa Sikayena Amankwah – Member  

Prof Adwoa Sikayena Amankwah is an Associate Professor of Media and Communications. She has close to two decades worth of pedagogical and industrial experience in research, teaching and community service, including the training of media practitioners. She works at the nexus of journalism, digital media and communication, culture, ethics, corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Her research interests span AI, digital media technologies, political communication, language, culture, media ethics and sustainable development. In the context of artificial intelligence, Prof Amankwah’s work is particularly relevant in exploring how emerging technologies and new media shift the dynamics of communication and how they affect journalism practice, public discourses and audience engagement in Africa.

As a researcher, she was a member of the Global Risk Journalism Hub (2021 – 2025) – a research network with representation in over 30 countries in Africa, Europe, America, Latin America and Asia during the peak of the Covid ’19 pandemic. The output from that research collaboration resulted in the publication of a Routledge Research in Journalism book titled: ‘Ecologies of Global Risk Journalism: Conceptualising Local Journalism in an Era of Deep Disruptions’. Together with other researchers from sub-Saharan Africa, they contributed a chapter on ‘Doing Journalism Research in times of a contagious global health crisis: methodological dilemmas and reflections from Sub-Saharan Africa’.

Furthermore, she has ample experience in research grants administration on various projects having served as the primary co-investigator on the UKRI project titled: Promoting Women’s Participation in Women’s Transformation through Popular Arts in KusaalSpeaking Communities in Ghana for the Culture for Sustainable and Inclusive Peace (CUSP Network+), a project that galvanized young girls and women in selected deprived districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana to aspire towards leadership for social transformation in their communities. 

Between 2020 to 2022, Prof Amankwah also served as a Project Advisory Committee member for the Legal Resources Centre-led project funded by the United States Agency for Aid and International Development (USAID) on digitalization and case-tracking of the court system in Ghana as part of the Justice Sector System Activity.

Currently, she administers community enhancement projects aimed at enhancing the lives and livelihoods of both children and marginalized adults in deprived communities and institutions as part of term projects she undertakes with both undergraduate and postgraduate students of her Corporate Social Responsibility classes annually. She sees this as part of her informal social contract in line with her vocation and academics.

As an educator, Prof Amankwah’s teaching philosophy encapsulates an amalgamation of theoretical concepts enlivened with practical insights that aim at resolving societal developmental problems. The annual CSR Projects undertaken by both her postgraduate and undergraduate students attests to this philosophy. Furthermore, she has also served as a reviewer for the International Journal of Communication in California, the Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society (JICE) as well as the Legon Journal of Humanities among others. 

Administratively, Prof Amankwah also has experience in nurturing and managing new and existing academic departments as well as faculties of universities as she has served as both Head of Communications Studies Department at UPSA and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, at the Christian Service University College, Kumasi. 

Prof Amankwah is also an academic programmes assessor with the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC), where she assesses both undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes for the Commission. She was also a member of the Ashanti Regional Media Advisory Committee of the National Media Commission (NMC). She was instrumental in building the capacity of media practitioners and journalists from the middle to the northern sector of Ghana.

As a capacity builder, she also organizes workshops and seminars for corporate bodies in the areas of Digital Media and Communication, Political Communication, Speech and News Writing, Editing and Designing as well as conducts research in journalism ethics and political communication for political actors and institutions.

Prof Amankwah holds a doctorate degree in Communication Science from the University of South Africa, a Master of Arts and post-graduate diploma degrees in Communication Studies, both from the University of Ghana and a Bachelor of Educational Foundations degree (with specialisations in English and French) from the University of Cape Coast. Additionally, she is a certified Further Education specialist in Media and Communications from the General Teaching Council of Scotland in the United Kingdom. She also has a considerable number of publications and articles (indexed in top-rated journals) to her credit. 

Web Address: https://prof-adwoa-amankwah.vercel.app

Mr. Francis Dadzie Jnr – Member

Francis Dadzie Jnr is a distinguished Ghanaian marketing, advertising, and business development executive with more than three decades of progressive leadership experience spanning Ghana’s broadcasting, advertising, and public-sector regulatory sectors.

He served for 24 years as Executive Director of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), where he played a pivotal role in advancing industry standards and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining the Advertising Association of Ghana, Mr. Dadzie built an accomplished career with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), where he served in commercial accounts management, budgeting, sales, marketing, and business development.

Mr. Dadzie currently serves as Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) and as Lead Consultant at Empeg Consults, where he advises outdoor advertising and media organizations on regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, industry relations, and business development strategy.

His served, also, as a Member of the Board of Directors of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (August 2024 – August 2026), as well as a Member of the Council and Audit Committee of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) until 2025. He is the President of the University’s Global Alumni Association.

A Chartered Secretary of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (formerly ICSA-UK) and a Chartered Marketer of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), Mr. Dadzie is widely recognized for his contributions to the marketing, media, and advertising professions.

Mr Moshie-Dayan Ahiamenyo – Member 

Mr Moshie-Dayan Ahiamenyo is an accomplished academician, researcher, and Senior Lecturer with over 20 years of experience in higher education, curriculum development, technical vocational training, and academic leadership. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Art and Culture at the University of Education, Winneba, and holds two master’s degrees, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, research, and professional excellence.

He serves in the Department of Textile Design and Technology at Takoradi Technical University, where he has developed expertise in textile design, leather technology, academic governance, curriculum innovation, quality assurance, and industry-focused education. He has served as Head of the Department of Textile Design and Technology, providing academic and administrative leadership through curriculum review, institutional representation, departmental coordination, and participation in academic governance structures. His experience serving on institutional academic boards and quality assurance committees has strengthened his understanding of policy development, strategic planning, accountability, and organisational improvement.

His research interests include textile innovation, sustainable materials, cultural design practices, technical education, and data analysis for evidence-based decision-making. His scholarly contributions include “Experimenting with the Viability of Local Vegetable-Tanned Leather for Upholstered Furniture,” published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG in 2024, and “Empirical Analysis of the Implementation of TQM in Smock Production for Sustainable Development,” published in the International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences in 2023. He has also contributed research on Ghanaian cultural resources, textile design development, and inclusive education, and has participated in academic engagements such as the 8th International Conference on Infrastructure Development in Africa (ICIDA) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2023.

With a combination of academic leadership, research experience, governance exposure, and a strong interest in data-driven approaches to decision-making, Moshie-Dayan Ahiamenyo brings a broad perspective that supports effective leadership, strategic thinking, innovation, and institutional development.

Mr Alexander Nii Katey Bannerman – Member  

Mr. Alexander Nii Katey Bannerman was the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission.

He holds a Master of Arts degree in Development Communications from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), B.A Hons. (Sociology and Law) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

He holds, also, a Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, and a certificate in African Leadership from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE).

He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Public Relations, Advertising, Sociology, Law and Telecommunications.

Locally, Alexander has played an instrumental role in ensuring media professionalism in Ghana’s 2016 general election. He served as an assistant project manager in the implementation of key European Union projects supporting the Independent Governance Institutions (IGI’s) involved in the electoral process in Ghana in 2016.

He also monitored activities to stimulate public interest and district level elections in Ghana.

In addition, Mr. Bannerman expanded the new monitoring Complaints Settlement Committee to enable citizens lodge complaints about the performance of media professionals in relation to media professional standards.

Again, he played a key role in the establishment of Regional Media Advisory Committees (RMACs) in the Volta, Ashanti, Upper East and Northern regions of Ghana to assist improve media monitoring and regulation. He also trained members of the RMACs on the Complaints Settlement Procedures of the Commission.

As part of his achievements, Alexander contributed in drafting new regulations and laws for the media sector through consultations with key stakeholders.

Mr. Alexander Bannerman has also contributed immensely to Ghana’s migration from analogue to digital broadcast systems. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Public Private Partnership on Ghana’s migration from analogue to digital.

He has also served on the National Digital Migration Committee where he was instrumental in the provision of policy and road map for Ghana’s migration from analogue to digital.

On the international front, Mr. Bannerman has been instrumental in ensuring high journalistic professionalism.

He was the Vice–President of the Anglophone focal point persons of ACRAN. He served as the General Coordinator for Anglophone countries of African Communications Regulatory Authorities Network (ACRAN), Francophone Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM), Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities (RIRM) and Ibero American Platform of Audiovisual Regulators (PRAI) at the 62nd session of the Committee on the Status of Women held to safeguard gender equality in the media, enhance women’s participation and access to the media, information and communications technologies as well as promote the advancement and empowerment of women in the media.

He has also participated in several summits in countries including Yaoundé Cameroun, Uganda, Tanzania, Canada, South Korea, United Kingdom and Benin.

Mr Vance Azu – Member

Vance Azu is an accomplished journalist, editor and media professional with over 30 years of progressive experience in news reporting, editorial leadership, newspaper production and opinion writing with Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), Ghana’s leading media organisation.

He comes to the Ghana News Agency Governing Board with proven leadership in newsroom management, editorial innovation, content strategy and digital transformation, and a strong track record of improving operational efficiency, increasing readership and maintaining the highest standards of journalistic excellence.

Mr Azu is renowned for producing exclusive front-page stories and compelling human-interest features that attracted national attention and influenced public discourse.

He is skilled in reporting, editing, feature writing, research, public affairs analysis and stakeholder engagement.

He has extensive experience profiling prominent personalities, including Presidents of the Republic of Ghana, distinguished business leaders, musicians, sports personalities and religious figures.

Mr Azu is a product of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (1991), now UniMac. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with Philosophy from the University of Ghana (2008).

He attended Manya Krobo Secondary School and Keta Secondary School for his secondary education

He started his career in 1991, at the GCGL, specifically The Mirror, and rose through the ranks to become the Assistant Editor of the paper on July 2, 2012.

He was later appointed the Night Editor of the flagship newspaper of the GCGL, the Daily Graphic in August, 2017, a position he held until he retired in 2021.

Madam Mercy Catherine Adjabeng – Member  

Mercy Catherine Adjabeng is a seasoned Communications, Gender, Governance and Development Specialist with over a decade of cross-sector experience spanning diplomacy, government, media, civil society, education and international development.

She holds an MA in Gender, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and a B.Ed. in Psychology with English, specializing in Guidance and Counselling, from the University of Cape Coast.

Her qualifications are complemented by postgraduate certifications in Literacy and Learning, Project Management and Child Protection Policy from the United Kingdom, as well as specialized training in communication and social media, good governance and social accountability, advocacy and citizen engagement, and women’s leadership from Canada. She has also participated in executive programs with the World Bank in Washington, DC, and the World Bank–Annenberg Institute at the University of Southern California, focusing on social protection, reform communication, leadership, strategy and stakeholder alignment.

Mercy’s extensive professional experience includes serving as Research, Public Affairs and Events Manager at the Australian High Commission in Ghana, where she also served as the High Commission’s Gender Focal Person on the UN Development Partners’ Gender Equality Sector Working Group (GEST). She has also served as Communications and Media Advisor at Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and as Communications, Advocacy and Information Management Officer at WiLDAF Ghana, representing the organization at international engagements in Peru, Belgium, Eswatini and Canada.

Media: A highly experienced media professional, she was a pioneer News Editor and Producer at TV3’s radio 3FM 92.7, where she championed women’s empowerment through the “Women Mean Business” programme, and previously served as Assistant News Editor at Joy FM. She also covered the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) in New York in 2017.

She currently serves as Convenor of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), a Pan-African organization advancing the rights, visibility and professional development of women in media. She is also a Founding and Steering Committee Member of Ghana’s Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, an author, and the Founder of Discovery Teens Magazine and the Discovery Foundation, reflecting her longstanding commitment to youth development, education and social impact.

A former English Language and Literature instructor at Ghana’s Wesley Girls’ High School, Mercy has also been recognized for distinguishing herself through mentorship and educational leadership. 

Overall, she brings to the GNA Board, a strong combination of strategic leadership, governance awareness, policy and advocacy expertise, stakeholder engagement, institutional experience, international exposure, communication excellence and a demonstrated commitment to gender equality, human rights, youth development and inclusive national development.