ABRAHAM A. ASARE
Accra
Summary
Communications and media executive with 27-year track record of managing, planning, developing, editing and making media content public, in a manner that is relevant to the vast audiences of various media forms. Relevant expertise in corporate communication and communication for social development with managerial know-how in monitoring and evaluation of projects and interventions. A dedicated and versatile Marketing Communications, PR and Knowledge Management (KM) practitioner. Spent the past 27 years in intensive learning and practice of broadcast journalism and managing donor-funded projects. My specific areas include strategic communication, media management and leading news teams to tell the stories of deprived communities as well as telling the success stories of others persons who have overcome the challenges of dire economic situations.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Media General Radio
- Current
- Provided leadership and direction in the operation of MG Radio frequencies by effectively collaborating with the Shared Service Department of Media General to ensure uninterrupted radio broadcast. This among other things, was to ensure that two key results were achieved. These are, the appearance on the Geopoll Tracker and meeting revenue targets. These were achieved.
General Manager, News
Media General Ltd
- Current
- Strategic direction of the MG News Department
- Determining and leading the policy and strategic direction of the Department.
- Managed and coordinated the programs, news and the activities of the News unit in a manner that ensured timely and seamless service provision with the aim of increasing ratings, generating revenue and managing costs.
- Responsible for the creation and execution of MG News' strategy.
- Identifying the restructuring needs of the Department to meet modern demands and trends.
- Key Achievements
- Led the news team, to create new revenue generating programmes for the company. These include SME fairs held in Kumasi, Takoradi and Accra and the Thought Leadership Forums
- Met almost all KPIs set for 2019. These include: Sales, ratings and awards.
- Met sales target of 1 million Ghana Cedis
- News properties on TV were number 1 according to Geopoll tracker
- Won 30 industry awards, including 15 GJA national and regional awards
Founding General Manager
Assemblies of God, Ghana Television, AGTV
01.2022 - Current
- Led team to set up Assemblies of God Ghana Television (AGTV)
- Currently managing the Christian Television station since 2022
- Leading the team to set up all departments by recruiting the right personnel to fill required roles
- Leads the station in general strategic planning and daily programming.
Consultant
Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), Kumasi
Kumasi
01.2020 - Current
- Donor funded development communication consultancy: Worked for the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) as a Consultant to write stories from across the country, telling the stories of Small and Medium Enterprises under the sponsorship/training of the Programme. The assignment came out with the following:
- 30 Stories from the Field.
- Travelled to programme districts nationwide and interviewed shortlisted clients and individuals who received assistance from the Rural Enterprise Programme, REP. We collated eyewitness accounts on the impact of REP for the writing of the 30 stories.
- Gathered documentary (development) photographic materials on all clients visited.
- The photographic materials, where necessary, included but not limited to:
- Income generating activities of clients supported by REP or created through the impact of REP.
- Benefits from direct REP interventions and usage of facilities put up by REP and through REP linkages.
- Poverty reduction and wealth creation – clients going about their daily lives
- Total Work Experience: 27 Years (1997 to date)
STAR Ghana Projects
01.2014 - 01.2021
- STAR Ghana Projects aimed at eliciting responsiveness from duty bearers to challenges brought to the fore by media teams – 2014 & 2016-2021. Coordinated these projects for Media General and led the news team to create impactful stories aired on Ghana’s number 1 TV station TV3. These stories generated headlines on the station and other radio stations within the media conglomerate. These stories resulted in many communities receiving interventions in the areas of health and education.
- About three different projects were undertaken over the period.
Managing News Editor
TV3 Network Ltd
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Developing and managing news content, planning, coordinating and administering programmes, processes, and facilities in the newsroom, including programming, production and training, accounting and organizing related events.
- Responsibilities
- Provided strong editorial leadership in the development of story ideas and content for bulletins
- Brainstorming story ideas, assigning reporters and camera men to cover news stories;
- Creating work schedules, supervising desk heads and assisting Deputy Managers to run the newsroom
- Managing daily editorial flow
- Led the team to cover the 2016 elections in a manner not done by any media house in Ghana. According to Geopoll viewership figures, TV3 was the most watched station during the elections in 2016.
- Reorganized the newsroom to ensure effective delivery of news and current content
Group Head Radio News
Media General Ltd
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Developing and managing Radio news content, planning, coordinating and administering programs, processes, and facilities in the newsroom, including programming, production, scheduling, training, digital and/or analogue editing, accounting, and organizing related events.
- Responsibilities
- Provided strong editorial leadership for the MG News team in Accra and the regions, ensuring that Radio news content conformed to MG Editorial Guidelines and that the needs of the audience were met
- Managing the MG Radio News Team
- Creating performance-driven culture that ensures accountability and personal responsibility;
- Leading, developing, coaching, and motivating three newsrooms in research and packaging news and current affairs programmes for broadcast;
- Played a key role in the restructuring of Media General and the setting up of a converged newsroom;
- Assists with the recruitment of staff and planning of training;
World Bank and IMF funded communications consultancy for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
01.2015 - 01.2015
- Main duties
- Led the team to develop a website for the ministry
- Strengthened the social media pages for the ministry
- Projected the work of the Ministry in social protection in particular with emphasis on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme (LEAP)
- Became the mouth piece of the Ministry in highlighting the plight of the physically challenged, women and children.
- Performed media campaign activities for the Affirmative Action Policy that was to have been passed.
Programmes Manager
Radio XYZ, Accra
Accra
01.2012 - 12.2012
- Scheduled programmes and hosts of programmes
- Regular monitoring of other stations as well as other competing stations;
- Host of current affairs programmes such as ‘What’s New’, ‘The Election Strong Room’ and ‘The Analysts
Assistant Chief Editor
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC
01.1997 - 01.2011
- Worked as team lead to produce major news bulletins for broadcast on radio Ghana.
- Led teams to generate ideas and follow ups in a manner that attracted commendation from Management.
- Oversaw daily operations over of the News Department once on duty
- Monitored multiple competitor stations to plan accordingly
- Delivered an exceptional level of hosting Radio Ghana's Behind the News programme, a news and current affairs show.
Education
BA (Hons) - Political Science with History
University of Ghana, Legon
Legon06-2021
MA - Communication Studies
University of Ghana, Legon
Legon05-2016
GCE A’Level - undefined
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
06-1994
GCE O’Level - undefined
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
06-1992
Skills
- Competence in development journalism
- An effective media manager, restructuring newsrooms and leading teams to establish media houses
- Competence in executing donor funded projects
- Good analytical, editing, writing, oral communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
- Good teaching and coaching skills
- Great skills in leading news teams to undertake development journalism practice
- A self-motivated team player with a teachable and “can do” spirit and ability to handle multiple tasks
- Excellent computer and basic ICT skills
Timeline
Founding General Manager
Assemblies of God, Ghana Television, AGTV
01.2022 - Current
Consultant
Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), Kumasi
01.2020 - Current
Group Head Radio News
Media General Ltd
01.2017 - 01.2018
Managing News Editor
TV3 Network Ltd
01.2016 - 01.2019
World Bank and IMF funded communications consultancy for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
01.2015 - 01.2015
STAR Ghana Projects
01.2014 - 01.2021
Programmes Manager
Radio XYZ, Accra
01.2012 - 12.2012
Assistant Chief Editor
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC
01.1997 - 01.2011
GCE O’Level - undefined
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
GCE A’Level - undefined
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
MA - Communication Studies
University of Ghana, Legon
General Manager, News
Media General Ltd
- Current
General Manager
Media General Radio
- Current
BA (Hons) - Political Science with History
University of Ghana, Legon
SHORT COURSES AND CONFERENCES ATTENDED
- World Aids Conference, 2014 – Melbourne, Australia
- Political Reporting, 2007 – Duetche Velle Academy, Bonn-Germany
- Field Reporting, 2006 – BBC, Accra Ghana