Professor Akua Britwum (L) and some newly elected members of the NMC
Professor Akua Britwum, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Development Studies, University of Cape Coast, has been elected as the first female Chairperson of the National Media Commission (NMC).
Her historic election took place during the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted commission.
Prof. Britwum secured a decisive victory, garnering 13 votes against her opponent’s four.
She will lead a commission that includes 17 newly sworn-in members, who officially took their oaths of office on Monday, May 27, 2025.
Among them is Mr. Ernest Owusu Addo, Editor of the New Crusading GUIDE, who joins the commission as the representative of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG).
The ceremony, which was held at the Supreme Court building in Accra, brought together media stakeholders, government officials, and civil society advocates, signaling the beginning of a new term for the constitutional body tasked with safeguarding press freedom and media accountability in the country.
The New Crusading GUIDE, an influential paper long known for its investigative reporting and advocacy for press freedom, will now serve as PRINPAG’s voice on the Commission, a development insiders say could bolster the representation of independent and private news publishers in national media discourse.
“This is both a responsibility and a recognition. The role of the media in democratic consolidation cannot be overstated, and I’m honoured to contribute directly to the national conversation on standards, ethics, and press freedom,” Addo said.
The appointment, officially endorsed by PRINPAG in April 2025, follows internal consultations within the association aimed at ensuring that its representative on the commission reflects both professional competence and a history of credible journalism.
The NMC, established under Article 166 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, regulates media practice in the country, arbitrates disputes, and promotes high journalistic standards.
Its board includes representatives from Parliament, the Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Journalists Association, and now, the New Crusading GUIDE on behalf of PRINPAG.