Meet the Top 20 Ghanaian Media Businesspersons
Known as the 4th estate of government, the Ghanaian media landscape has over the past twodecades evolved not only as an avenue for engaging citizens but a lucrative business sector thathas produced some successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in Ghana.
Even though wecannot evaluate the financial value of the industry in Ghana, Price Water-Coopers in 2017 valuedthe global entertainment and media market at $2trillion which tells us the potential this industrydescribed as one of the fastest growing industries has to make one a successful entrepreneur.
Even with tight regulations being witnessed currently in the media landscape, multiples of mediaventures would continue to be established and for the records for entrepreneurs who wish toventure into the media business, I decided to research and name some of the most successful Ghanaian media entrepreneurs and leaders.
With the emergence of new media (blogging & vlogging), I can boldly predict that the narrative would not be the same in a few years from now as similar publications would feature individualscurrently taking advantage of creating content and using the online space to spearhead their works.
The list below throws the spotlight on both leaders and entrepreneurs in the media space in Ghana who feature as the founders or managers of the biggest media establishments in Ghanawho are rivalling thriving African media companies.
1. Dr Kwabena Duffuor &; Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi (Bola Ray) – EIB NetworkIn 2014, former minister and entrepreneur, Dr Kwabena Duffuor partnered with mediapersonality and entrepreneur to launch the Excellence in Broadcasting Network (EIB Network).
EIB Network currently operates as a big media group with operations online, radio and television. The group owns and run Starr FM, Live FM, Kasapa FM, Ultimate Radio, Agoo FM,Abusua FM, Empire FM, GhOne TV and several news websites.As one of the successful collaborations in the media landscape, both Dr Duffuor & Bola Rayhave led the EIB Network to lead the industry.
2. Dr Kwaku Oteng – Angel Broadcasting NetworkDr Kwaku Oteng, a serial media entrepreneur is credited to have the largest conglomerate ofradio stations in Ghana. Through his Angel Broadcasting Network, he owns Angel FM & CheersFM radio franchise, Angel TV, Pure FM and several other media outlets.He also owns a chain of businesses in Ghana’s herbal medicines, broadcasting, beverages andtransport industries and a well-known philanthropist.
3. Edith Dankwa – Business & Financial Times Limited
Edith Dankwa is notably the most audacious woman in the media space having survived severaldecades of running the foremost business newspaper in Ghana.
Under her leadership, hercompany organises the Ghana Economic Forum and hosts other business events across thecountry. Established in 1989 as a weekly publication the Business & Financial Times (B&FT)has grown to be a leader in the newspaper industry reporting on various issues of business andthe economy.Her outfit also manages the Business Times Africa Magazine (BT), Energy Today Magazine(ET) and the Business & Financial Times (B&FT) newspaper under her company umbrella, theBusiness and Financial Times Limited
4. George Kwasi Twum – Multimedia GroupMultimedia Group Limited (MGL) was founded in 1995 by Kwasi Twum with one radio station- Joy 99.7Fm as the first private radio station licensed in Ghana. Over the years group hasexpanded into more radio & TV Channels, News Websites and a satellite network.Notable media companies under the brand are, Adom FM, Asempa FM, Hitz FM, Luv FM,Adom TV, Joy News & myjoyonline.com.Mr Kwasi Twum is a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative, an Aspen Institute Henry CrownFellowship Initiative and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University ofGhana, Legon and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
5. Nik Amarteifio & Samuel Attah Mensah – Omni Media LtdWith Nik Amarteifio as the owner and Samuel Attah Mensah as the manager, Omni Media hasevolved quickly to carve an excellent niche itself in the industry. With an exemplary leadership,their organisation operate Citi FM, Citi TV, Citi Newsroom and other news websites.Mr Amarteifio is also the Chairman and majority shareholder of Dannex Limited, Starwin andAyrton as Samuel Attah-Mensah ‘Sammens’ serves as the Managing Director of Omni Media.
6. Osei Kwame & Ernest Ofori Sarpong – Despite Media & U2Osei Kwame is one of the successful media entrepreneurs who is credited to have revived theGhanaian media landscape with the launch of Peace FM in 1999. Osei Kwame could quicklyexpand his media network to Okay FM, Neat FM, Hello FM and Peace FM Online and groupedthem under the umbrella of Despite Group of Companies.Through a partnership with Ernest Ofori Sarpong another successful entrepreneur in 2015, theyco-founded United Television (UTV) which is the most watched free to air local channel inGhana. They both own shares in Best Point Savings & Loans Limited in Ghana.
7. Hon Kennedy Agyapong – Net2 BroadcastingAs one of the famous politicians in Ghana, Hon Kennedy Agyapong is also a reveredentrepreneur whose investment in the media cannot be overlooked. His channels Oman FM,Net2 Television, Ash FM and Spice FM have played major roles in the political space in thecountry.
8. Hon Frederick Blay & Kwame Blay – Weston Publications Limited (Daily Guide & DGN)Freddy Blay is currently the chairperson of the ruling NPP government in Ghana, but during hispolitical exploits, he founded the Daily Guide newspaper which is officially the mouthpiece ofhis party. His son Kwame Blay is currently the managing director as both parents are engaged inserving the current government in various positions. As the youngest person on this list, he hassuccessfully added a television network to the newspaper and their popular news websitewww.dailyguidenetwork.com.Frederick Blay is also the Senior Partner at Blay and Associates and the board chairman andmajority shareholder of Western Publications Limited, publishers of the Daily Guide newspaper,the flagship of the Group, Business Guide, News-One, Young Blazers and DGN.
9. Rev Anthony Cudjoe & Beatrice Agyemang Abbey – Media GeneralAccording to ghana.mom-rsf.org, Media General, one of the largest media conglomerates inGhana is owned by The Cudjoes with renowned ICGC pastor Rev. Anthony Cudjoe as theexecutive director.Media General’s rich and diversified portfolio of businesses includes TV3 Network Ltd, MGRadio (3FM, Onua FM, Connect FM), MG Digital (3news.com) and Adesa Productions Ltd.Beatrice Agyemang Abbey serves as the Group CEO after previous roles in the company as aGeneral Manager, a Managing News Editor, an anchor, a reporter and Senior Producer.
10. Dr Kwame Kyei - Vision 1 & Light TVApart from being the chairman of the Asante Kotoko football club, Dr Kwame Kyei is notablyknown for his investments in the media. In 2006, he kick-started his media adventure with thelaunch of Light FM in Kumasi and has over the years added more channels such as LightTelevision, Vision 1 FM and Wisdom FM to the media scene.Dr Kwame Kyei is an accomplished entrepreneur and corporate executive with over 25 years ofexperience in the Petroleum downstream sector. Dr Kyei is currently the Chief Executive Officerand Chairman of the Board of the Unity Group of Companies with its latest addition being UnityAir. The group has a workforce of about 4,000.
11. Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin - Atinka Media VillageAs a newbie in the media industry, Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin took one of the boldest decisions toventure into the industry and has so far made a remarkable imprint for himself. Through his TVchannel, Atinka TV, the group launched a dancing reality show, which is regarded as one of themost watched reality TV shows in the country. His other media channels include Atinka FM,Agyenkwa FM, Ahotor FM and Atinkaonline.Dr Tobbin is the Executive Chairman of The Tobinco Group with over Twenty Five (25) years’experience in managing businesses.
12. H.E. Edward Boateng - Global Media AllianceWith current accomplishments as an ambassador to China, H.E. Edward Boateng is the Founderand Chairman of media conglomerate Global media Alliance which owns and run the brands:YFM, Happy FM & ETV Ghana.In 1998, Edward Boateng incorporated Global Media Alliance (GMA) in Johannesburg, SouthAfrica, with a view to offering services like corporate communications, television production andmedia relations and event management. Currently, GMA is headquartered in Accra, Ghana withan office in Kenya and partners in Nigeria, UK, South Africa and Malaysia.
13. Kwasi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie – Network Broadcasting CompanyMr Kwasi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie’s venture in the media is notably one of the greatestcontributions to political discourse in Ghana. With the affiliation to the current opposition NDC,his channels Radio Gold & Montie FM have contributed to the immensely the development ofour media landscape.Even though his company is currently facing multiple challenges of closure, his role as thefounder of Network Broadcasting Company Limited is worth noting.
14. Stephen Boateng - Kessben FM LimitedMr Stephen Boateng popularly known as Kwabena Kesse, is a successful entrepreneur and thesole shareholder of Kessben FM Limited, the company which runs Kessben TV, Aseda TV andKessben FM.He is also the Chief Executive Officer or Director of the Kessben Group of Companies and theChancellor of the Kessben University College.
15. Hon Wilson Arthur – Skyy Media Group
For the past 20 years, Wilson Arthur has led the Skyy Media Group to evolve as a local FMstation based in Takoradi to national pride after venturing into the media industry with thepassion to impact people’s lives.Spotting an opportunity in 2006 when Ghana signed the international agreement to switch fromanalogue to digital television by 2015, the group applied for a license to operate a digitaltelevision infrastructure which was launched in February 2009.As a politician, Hon Wilson is currently serving as the District Chief Executive for Wassa East inthe Western Region.
Source: Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media
