Foray into journalism…. Editor retires

Mr Emmanuel Amponsah

As we grow up we fantasise about being one thing or the other. We want to be teachers because we see them as very knowledgeable. We want to be nurses as they are neatly dressed. Many others fancy being doctors, pilots, engineers and many more.

When I resisted going to school and was asked what I wanted to do, I quickly responded I wanted to be a washerman. But this desire evaporated as an uncle told me I would need to write the names of my clients in case they brought identi­cal items.

As time went on I saw my own prowess in the study of Geography as a subject. I again thought of being a soldier, but in my ignorance I thought it was not fea­sible since I did not grow a moustache. Teaching did not feature under any circumstance. My Geography improved when I went to secondary school.

Finally, I made up my mind to read ei­ther Geomorphology or Climatology. I can proudly say I was easily the best Geog­raphy student but the final examination did not favour me in the subject. I was devastated. I ended up going to train as a teacher at the Presbyterian Training College, Akropong.in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

On one vacation in Accra from Madon­na school at Koforidua, I phoned the Ed­itor of the *Weekly Spectator* to inquire if I could write a column for the paper. The Editor, a Mr. Kwesi Woode, as he said his name was, asked me to forward three scripts to his office. I told him I could only write on situations as they unfolded and he said he could not help. I knew it was his right to turn me down.

My flair for writing was ignited by a Ms. Elizabeth Suhre, an American Peace Corps volunteer who taught me English Language for three years. Sometime in 1971 there was a national essay compe­tition on the subject, “What should the National Service Corps do?” It was during the premiership of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia.

My essay was one of two selected for the Keta District. Mine was picked for the Regionals at Ho. Again, my essay was picked to represent Volta Region at the national level. The final draw did not come off before Busia was overthrown by soldiers on January 13, 1972.

As fate would have it, I got my Ad­vanced Diploma in Journalism and Professional Writing. Now I had two professions; a teacher and journalist. I have written quite a bit under pseud­onyms, some sermons under pseudonyms and Astrological predictions in the same manner.

Having done radio, television and print I came to the conclusion that anything on radio and television goes with the wind, but the written material lingers forever, even in spite of the fact that with ICT, materials anywhere can be stored and retrieved.

In December of 2020 I presented an Astrological predictions and perspective on Election 2020 to the *Daily Graphic* for publication. As was their right to do, the Night Editor of the paper got my write-up removed from the paper. I ad­mit that our personal beliefs and biases can be brought to bear on our vocations. But it was his right to do what he did.

Then, out of the blue I got a call from a number I did not have in my phone contacts. He identified himself as the Editor of the *Weekly Spectator* asking if I could write a column for the paper. I did not think twice before accepting the offer. He made it clear that the company did not have money and I told him I did not expect payment.

So, on Saturday the 4th of December in 2020 *Random Muses* began on these pages with the very write-up *Daily Graphic* rejected. According to my Editor, some sceptics on the subject of astrology called him after the Election 2020 to express their wonder at the predictions.

Two weeks ago as I got my newspa­pers delivered to me I saw on the front page that my Editor had retired. I recall he had mentioned before the last Christmas period that he would retire this year, but I thought it might be in December. Let me make a confession: I have never set eyes on my Edi­tor, Mr Emmanuel Amponsah.

We only communicate by phone or email. I can imagine what he may have gone through publishing my write-ups, especially since I state my mind without inhibition on any sub­ject mat­ter. Knowing how toxic our national dis­course can be, writing on national issues is one thing, but having the courage to put them on the pages of a national paper is something else.

I usually tell Mr. Amponsah he should feel free to edit or get me to change my write-ups to save his skin from intolerant politicians who may call to rebuke him, but he tells me he would do no such thing as touch my scripts. I salute my Ed­itor for his courage and professionalism and also for his independent mindedness.

This is what is expected of a profes­sional journalist: independent minded­ness. Those who buckle under political pressure/influence and those who fear to lose their positions are threats to nation­al development and progress.

Talking about political pressure brings me to respond to a reader who sent me an email asking why I do not appear on television any longer. It was a good ob­servation. True, I used to appear on newspaper review programmes on television until three years ago. At this point I was paired with Captain Joel Kwami Sowu, a national­ist to the core.

One morning, the young, hardworking and dynamic producer called to tell me that his management had decided to split Cap­tain Sowu and me so that each of us would be paired with differ­ent panellists. Natural­ly, I asked if there was a problem. He answered that a call came from the communication department of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) de­manding such action.

According to him, the NPP request­ed that we should be paired with one of their communicators to ‘counter’ whatever we had to say. My first reaction was “nonsense.” What I know of Captain Sowu is that he has an independent mind and has no partisan leanings. A fiercely political individual, Joel is not afraid of stating his opinions without fear.

First, we did not know what the newspapers published until we got to the studio, so how could a political party know what we were going to say so as to ‘counter’ us? It did not make sense to me and I told the young producer that I would get back to him after I had spoken to Captain Sowu.

When I narrated this to Joel, all he said in response was, “Akofa, if you buy into this nonsense, go ahead and appear on the newspaper review programmes.” I have stayed away from that station ever since. If a media organisation wants to dance to political music it is within their right to do so.

I have appeared on programmes with very seasoned and matured minds in the NPP, NDC, CPP and PNC. I can easily re­call the likes of lawyers Kwame Jantuah and Tom Mawusi, Hon. Catherine Afeku, Philip Longdon, Bernard Mornah, Kwaku Baako Jnr, Egbert Faibile, Joe Jackson, Professors Nii Noi Dowuona and Nana Essilfi Conduah and many others I cannot recall immediately.

I am glad to stay away because I cringe when I hear some of these young, intoler­ant upstarts throwing insults at people who hold opposing views to theirs. Imagine calling a Paramount Chief a pro­pagandist of another party and another saying a co-panellist was not qualified to be the president’s houseboy. The simple rule is to state your view and let others state theirs. There are some from the NDC who do no better.

Fortunately, no political party has ever asked me to communicate on their behalf. When I appear on a programme I see the whole nation as my constituency and address issues dispassionately. Let me make another confession: I voted religiously for NPP’s Nana Akomea since 1996 until he decided not to enter Par­liament any longer. Even after I left the constituency in 1997 I kept my vote there till he left.

I vote for people I am convinced can deliver, not on flimsy emotional or for sentimental reasons. It is for this reason that I doff my hat to Mr Emmanuel Am­ponsah. He did not ask my political lean­ing though he may know now that I am an unrepentant admirer of the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his Pan Africanist philosophy.

Once a journalist, I believe Mr. Ampon­sah will remain a journalist. I welcome him to the Club of Retirees. I wish my Editor the best in any endeavour he undertakes in retirement. I am convinced that his successor will accept me for who I am.

Writer’s email address:

akofa45@yahoo.com

By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia