Earl Ankrah
Earl Ankrah | |
|---|---|
| File:Earl Ankrah in vogue.jpg | |
| Nationality | Ghana |
| Citizenship | Ghanaian |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation(s) | Policy Communications Practitioner; PR Specialist; Broadcast-Journalism Consultant; and Macro-Level HR Expert |
| Years active | 1990 to date |
| Organization(s) | Fair Wages and Salaries Commission |
| Title | Mr |
Emmanuel Earl Ankrah professionally known as Earl Ankrah is a former national television show host; and currently a policy communications practitioner, PR specialist, broadcast-journalism consultant and a macro-level HR expert from Ghana.[1]
Career
Earl Ankrah is widely considered to be the "pioneer" of breakfast television in Ghana.[2] He was the originator and host of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's Breakfast Show in the 90s. In 2006, Ankrah hosted EA Live!, an avant-garde magazine talk programme, which he purposed to run for one season only.[3]
Earl has since temporarily suspended his on-cam presence, following his appointment as the Head of Public Affairs at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (the state organisation responsible for determining and negotiating salaries of public sector employees in Ghana).[4]
Earl Ankrah is also an avid writer on a broad spectrum of issues, through an entertaining play on words and sharp wit. His articles seek to pivot public attention away from entrenched biases and stagnant norms, towards more open-minded, progressive and realistic new-day approaches to divisive issues around the world (especially in Ghana and the United States).[5]
Interviews
Earl in his Broadcast-Journalism career, has conducted some of the most sought after interviews in Ghana, Africa and the world, with personalities including politicians, sports and entertainment icons. In Ghana, he's done interviews with former President John Kufuor, Vice President John Dramani Mahama and other top-level politicians, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Diplomats. He's hosted coaches and players of the national football team of Ghana, ‘The Black Stars’; finalists and crown bearers of the Miss Ghana, Miss Universe-Ghana and Miss Malaika Ghana beauty pageants. His interviews on the African continent include that with Meiway, Manu Dibango, Lucky Dube, Youssou N'Dour, Osibisa, Arrow (South American calypso legend), and Godfrey Moloy (Godfather of Soweto). Earl has also hosted globally known faces including Reverend Jesse Jackson and Sir Roger Moore (James Bond) among others.[6]
Education
Earl Ankrah is a product of Accra Academy, where he was a Chapel Prefect; the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he obtained a Diploma in Journalism; the Graduate School of Management (UK and Accra campuses) where he took a graduate course in Public Relations and then the National Institute for Labour Economics Research and Development, New Delhi (formerly, the Institute of Applied Manpower Research), where he read an MA in Human Resource Planning and Development (a macro-level human resource discipline).[7]
Advocacy
Given his journalism background, Earl Ankrah is drawn to a varied number of interests that he advocates public and government attention for. He champions the need to exercise political neutrality in judgement and decision making. In 2020, he defended two high-level politicians of different political lineages: Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (of the New Patriotic Party) and Vice Presidential Candidate Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang (of the National Democratic Congress), both of whom were former radio presenters, who moderated the 2012 Presidential Debate. They came under public backlash in 2020, for moderating the debate (back in 2012)[8] whiles haboring political ambitions. Ankrah also advocates for the development of the arts in Ghana. He has called for the honoring of persons who have contributed to the growth of Hiplife music, one of whom is the CEO of Ohenemedia, Abraham Ohene Djan.[9] Earl also promotes women's and children's rights, encourages creative photography and aesthetic architecture.
Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Promoting Ghana Tourism | Tourism Award | Won[10] |
| 2002 | Viewers Choice | RTV TV Personality of the Year | Won[10] |
| 2002 | ECOWAS | ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Award | Won[10] |
| 2001 | Viewers Choice | RTV TV Personality of the Year 2001 | Won[10] |
| 1997 | Radio & TV Reviews (Magazine) | TV’s Favorite Face 1997 | Won[10] |
References
- ^ Ghana, News (2012-03-15). "Fair Wages and Salaries Commission appoints Earl Ankrah as Head of Public Affairs". News Ghana. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Online, Peace FM. "Fair Wages And Salaries Commission Appoints Earl Ankrah". m.peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ "Ghanabase.com Ghana Music News :: EA Live: Down but Not Out ::: Breaking News | News in Ghana | radiotv". Lifestyle Ghanabase. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- ^ Online, Peace FM (2012-03-12). "Fair Wages And Salaries Commission Appoints Earl Ankrah". Peace FM Online. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Online, TheAfricanDream. "Earl Ankrah writing samples". Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ "Improving the status quo of broadcasting in Ghana; Earl Ankrah's Contribution simply Remarkable". Newslinegh.com. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Earl Ankrah in Focus". Afriwake Radio. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ spyDa (2020-08-11). "Earl Ankrah Defends Prof. Opoku-Agyemang And Oppong Nkrumah". Ghana News Online. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "Abraham Ohene Djan deserves Lifetime Achievement award – Earl Ankrah". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Earl Ankrah in Focus". Afriwake Radio. Retrieved 2020-09-17.