Hi, I'm Sena Quashie

Digital Strategy & Revenue Growth Maven at Media General Ghana.

leadership

6+

Years of Leadership

4

Leadership Awards

strategy

Digital Transformation

Leading digital transformation across media platforms, creating innovative products and content strategies.

Digital Transformation

Strategic Vision & Implementation

Setting and executing digital direction, identifying new opportunities in fast-paced media environments.

Strategic Vision & Implementation

Data-Driven Leadership

Leading data initiatives as Chief Data Officer, particularly for comprehensive election coverage.

Data-Driven Leadership

collaboration

Working collaboratively with service delivery teams to manage client relationships has been essential to our success. This involves coordination across digital channels and content development to ensure seamless execution.

Strategic Collaboration

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

As Meta Client Partner Lead, successfully built and nurtured a broad network of customer and industry relationships while managing and mentoring the local team of Client Partners to achieve revenue targets.

Client Partnership

Relationship-Driven Results

Throughout my tenure at Media General, I've served as a key member of the Executive Committee, contributing to the overall strategic direction of the group while ensuring alignment across all departments.

Executive Leadership

Organizational Alignment

There was a time when GTV Ghana’s social media presence was the unexpected underdog of digital engagement. When they first broke out of the traditional, state-broadcaster mould and started engaging audiences with wit, humour, and well-placed clap backs, it was a refreshing shift. 

For a station that was often dismissed as outdated, this felt like a rebrand in real time, one that made them relevant again in the digital space.

I remember one moment distinctly. My GCEO called me into her office and, in her usual curious but forward-thinking manner, asked: Who is running GTV’s social media? Find out. Maybe we should hire them.

At that point, their social team was doing something unprecedented for a government-run broadcaster. They weren’t just posting schedules and updates; they were engaging, taking jabs, and even challenging big brands like DSTV. People loved it. 

The comments under their posts were filled with praise, laughter, and viral shares. It felt like the digital transformation of an institution that, for years, had struggled to remain relevant.

But here we are now. The final evolution of what we once cheered.

What started as a bold digital play has spiralled into an unfiltered, unprofessional mess. Instead of an engaging state broadcaster with personality, we now have an institution that is caught up in social media clap back culture, dragged into petty online feuds, responding to criticism with passive-aggressive remarks, and, worst of all, losing its credibility in the process.

Take their recent engagement with Metro TV journalist Bridget Otoo. She posted a lighthearted tweet, jokingly asking President John Mahama to appoint her as the Director-General of GTV. A perfect opportunity for a measured, witty, yet professional response. Instead, GTV clapped back in a way that was unnecessarily patronizing:

“Dear @Bridget_Otoo, the job application you’ve written should rather be sent to the National Media Commission and not @JDMahama. As a journalist, I’m sure you know the NMC is the appointing body of the GBC D-G.”

Then, for added measure, they threw in an eye-roll emoji and the hashtag #posco.

This wasn’t engagement. This wasn’t humour. This was a state broadcaster acting like an internet troll.

An earlier engagement between the two, which was “punchier” had left me aghast.

GTV vs Bridget Otoo

Even within industry circles, discussions have shifted. Recently, in a professional WhatsApp group, colleagues debated how GTV’s social media engagement had moved from witty to outright reckless.

The irony? We enabled this.

The problem with clap back culture being adopted by a state broadcaster

Social media rewards engagement. Virality. Shares. But what GTV has failed to realize is that not all engagement is good engagement; especially for a national broadcaster. 

When they first started, we all cheered them on. We encouraged the witty responses, the feisty engagements, the “relatable” posts. But we didn’t stop to ask: Is there a long-term strategy here?

And that’s where we, as a people, enabled this mess. We hyped them up without demanding structure. We celebrated their banter without questioning whether a state institution should be operating like a parody account. We fuelled their engagement without considering that a brand built on internet humour has no guardrails when the joke inevitably goes too far.

Now, here we are. The shift has happened. The same audience that once rooted for them is now dragging them daily. The respect that was briefly regained has eroded. 

The “cool state broadcaster” brand has dissolved into one that people simply don’t take seriously any more.

So what exactly is the strategy?…or the end goal?

The core issue here is that GTV’s social media presence does not seem to being guided by a clear, professional digital strategy (unless the strategy is to get engagement by all means). There is a fundamental difference between being engaging and being reckless. A professional broadcaster should have:

  • A clear content and engagement policy.
  • A crisis management plan for handling sensitive topics.
  • An internal team that understands the balance between relatability and credibility.

Instead, what we see is a team operating on vibes. Reacting rather than planning. Posting for shock value rather than engagement with intent.

And the consequences are evident. They’re now in the same category as troll accounts and anonymous social media commentators, where even when they’re right, they’re not respected.

So what now?

If GTV wants to regain credibility, they need to press reset.

  1. Acknowledge the shift. Someone needs to recognize that the brand has veered off track. Admitting this is step one.
  2. Implement a social media policy. One that prioritizes engagement, but with guidelines that ensure professionalism is never compromised.
  3. Hire the right people, not just those who can clap back, but those who understand digital communication at an institutional level.
  4. Rebuild trust. GTV needs to decide if it wants to be a respected broadcaster or a Twitter engagement farm. Because right now, they are failing at both.

GTV’s social media meltdown isn’t just their failure. It’s a reflection of how we, as a digital audience, encourage chaos without thinking about the long-term effects. We love disruption. 

We love when institutions “loosen up” and “get with the times.” But there is a fine line between modernizing and losing institutional integrity.

We saw GTV take a path that could have been innovative, and we failed to ask the right questions. Instead, we laughed, we shared, and we fuelled a trajectory that has now left them in an identity crisis.

And before anyone takes my words out of context, I run multiple social media accounts for major media brands. 

I understand the delicate balance between engagement and credibility. I know firsthand that there is a way to be bold without being reckless, to be engaging without being dismissive, and to modernize without eroding trust.

It was all fun and games until it wasn’t.

For those of you who have followed my yearly Manifestos, I know this may come as a surprise. This year, I am transitioning from Manifestos to Charters

Manifestos have long been a way for me to share my aspirations and reflections, often with a focus on outward impact — building systems, inspiring others, and contributing to the broader world. 

But 2025 is different. It marks the beginning of a deeply personal journey, one that calls for a new kind of document — a Charter.

Charters are promises to myself, rooted in authenticity and alignment with my core values. They reflect an inward focus while still inviting others to witness and, perhaps, draw inspiration. 

This shift also marks the start of a 10-year commitment, where each year’s Charter will build on the last, creating a roadmap for intentional growth and meaningful impact. The Keystone Charter is the first of these, symbolizing the foundation of everything I aim to create in the years ahead.

2025 is a year of transitions, a year that feels like the hinge on which the doors of my life swing. There’s a sense of gravity about it — a weight that grounds me but also propels me forward. This Charter, “The Keystone Charter,” is my guide for what will undoubtedly be one of the most profound years of my life. 

The keystone, as we know, holds the arch together, lending it strength and coherence. This year, I want to embody that strength—to be the steady point around which my personal, professional, and family aspirations revolve.

I’ve spent years focused outward — building systems, mentoring people, creating platforms — but this year calls me to root everything in something deeper, something closer to home. It’s a year in which authenticity takes centre stage, where every choice I make becomes a deliberate act of alignment with my values. 

The Keystone Charter is not just a plan; it’s a promise to live intentionally and to build a life that resonates with who I truly am.

The keystone, as we know, holds the arch together, lending it strength and coherence.

So what are my core foundations for 2025?

The Keystone Charter rests on four essential pillars, each representing a facet of the life I’m crafting:

Family First: This pillar reminds me that my first responsibility, my truest purpose, begins and ends with the people closest to me. It’s about presence — not just in body but in spirit — about showing up in ways that matter and leaving no doubt that my priorities lie where they should.

Authentic Leadership: Authenticity is not just a buzzword to me; it’s the bedrock of how I want to lead and live. Whether I’m speaking on a stage, mentoring a colleague, or simply reflecting in solitude, I want every word, every action, to be an unfiltered expression of who I am. Leadership, to me, isn’t about power; it’s about truth. 

I believe I have embodied this quite well over the course of my career, I have stayed true to myself and BEING myself — maybe even a little too well. I have also learnt that being “brutally honest” is much more cruelty than kindness, so I would want my authenticity in 2025 to reflect a change in this.

Legacy Building: Every action this year — from taking WMS Africa out of a closed beta (of sorts) to the choices I make in my personal life — is part of a larger story I’m writing. 

Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind; it’s what we live out every day. This pillar asks me to consider: What am I creating that will outlast me?

I am consistently reminded of something I have seen on Eli Daniel-Wilson’s bio on Twitter (I will NEVER call it X). He says something about “building the longest table”, and for me that is a form of legacy — building something that outlasts you and leaves a long-lasting impression of your authentic self.

I have spent years building stuff for people and the companies I work with. That in itself is a legacy – that the story of some of the best brands cannot be told without my name, but I am looking forward to doing more in more intentional ways in 2025.

Intentional Growth: Growth for growth’s sake doesn’t interest me any more. The goal now is to grow in ways that matter, to expand in directions that align with my values and my vision for the future.

Roles, titles and portfolios are all nice and great but having worked in the corporate world proper since sometime 2011, I can see the musical chairs a bit more clearly for what it is now, just musical chairs. 

This year, I’m choosing sustainability—for my energy, my ambitions, and my relationships.

Specific Goals

This year’s goals are ambitious but deeply personal. Each one feels like a thread in the tapestry I’m weaving—a tapestry of family, work, and impact.

Personal Goals:

  • Presence is my mantra. I want to show up — for myself, for my family, and for the quiet moments that so often get lost in the rush of life.
  • Begin writing reflective letters again, to self and to YOU. These letters will capture what I’m learning, feeling, and experiencing this year, as a way to create a living record of my journey.
  • Deepen my mindfulness practices. Whether it’s through journaling, quiet mornings, or intentional time away from screens, I’m committing to moments of stillness.

Professional Goals:

  • This is the year WMS moves from baby idea to reality. I will officially establish the company, define its mission, and map out a strategic plan for its growth.
  • Continue to expand my public speaking engagements, focusing on topics that matter deeply to me: authenticity, leadership, and the importance of legacy.
  • Strengthen my mentorship initiatives, creating opportunities for young Africans to thrive in ways that align with their unique potential.

Community Goals:

  • Partner with organizations that align with WMS’ mission, amplifying our collective impact. I have a foundation called “Futures Faster” that I intend to launch for this. This ties into the below.
  • Support educational initiatives in the digital and finance space, particularly those focused on empowering youth in underserved communities.
  • Advocate for systems that encourage intentional living and leadership, using my voice and platforms as tools for change.

What lessons from 2024 have shaped this

2024 was a year of contrasts—a year of significant progress in some areas and quiet delays in others. 

I’ve learned that building people is as much about patience as it is about action. The scholarships, mentorships, and public speaking engagements of last year reminded me of the power of investing in others, even when the results aren’t immediately visible.

At the same time, my delay in “building products” taught me something just as valuable: that progress isn’t always linear. 

Sometimes, the best-laid plans take longer to materialize, and that’s okay. What matters is persistence and a willingness to adapt. 

These lessons form the foundation of this Charter, reminding me to embrace both action and reflection as I move forward.

This Charter isn’t just a personal document; it’s an invitation for you to also consider your own lives and legacies. Take these from me;

  • When your actions align with your values, life takes on a clarity and purpose that no amount of external validation can provide. That’s the power of alignment
  • Whether in business, family, or personal growth, a strong foundation is essential. Take the time to build it well. That’s the importance of foundations.
  • Growth without introspection is like wandering without a map. Take stock of where you’ve been to better chart where you’re going. That’s the role of reflection.

Keeping myself in check

Accountability is what turns intentions into realities. This year, I’ll hold myself accountable through:

  • Monthly reflections on how well I’m living out this Charter, particularly in balancing family, work, and personal growth. I will publicly share each monthly reflection – what better way to hold myself accountable than to do so in public.
  • Transparent updates on WMS Africa’s progress, inviting feedback and collaboration from trusted advisors.
  • Regular conversations with my mentors, ensuring that I remain grounded and aligned with my larger goals.

I’ll also continue to journal, capturing the lessons, challenges, and milestones of this year — a practice that not only holds me accountable but also allows me to celebrate the journey as it unfolds. Trust me when I say this, “a daily journal will reflect more growth for you than anything else” – quote me on that.

The keystone is more than a set of goals; it’s a declaration of what I want 2025 to mean. It’s a promise to live authentically, to build a life that reflects my deepest values, and to create a legacy that begins with the choices I make today. 

As I navigate the joys and challenges of this pivotal year, I hold fast to the belief that alignment is everything. When we align our actions with our values, we don’t just live—we thrive.

Here’s to 2025—a year of crafting legacy and amplifying authenticity, one deliberate step at a time.

Most people collect souvenirs from their travels, your father leaves children as souvenirs.” – the echo of Mama’s words hung in Adwoa’s memory, a bitter honey on her tongue.

He was a whirlwind, Mama would say. A tornado of ideas and ambition, tearing through villages, across towns, all the way to the halls of Parliament. They’d met young, eyes alight with dreams bigger than their own bodies. Adwoa always imagined her father’s voice filling the room, drawing her mother in with its deep rumble and the promise of a better Ghana.

His fight for independence wasn’t just political – he was breaking free the way an eagle does, talons released from the clutch of the British Empire.

Mama had clipped her own wings for his sake, her own ambitions for a teaching career tucked under the neatly pressed folds of his shirts. Yet, like a shadow, a faint yearning lingered behind her smile.

Then came Harvard.

Letters were the only bridge across the Atlantic. Mama’s neat script recounting ordinary days – a leaking roof, Adwoa’s first tooth, the neighbour’s son caught stealing mangoes. His words, in return, were like comets blazing in the night sky. He wrote of professors and philosophers, buzzing ideas of democracy swirling in his head. Between the lines, Adwoa could almost taste the distance, a slow, widening ache.

When he returned, un-tanned and brimming with newness, the man who got off the ship was familiar, yet subtly changed. He plunged back into politics, the roar of crowds replacing the quiet of their home. They moved to the capital, a bustling, dusty heart of the young nation. There were fancy dinners where stiff-backed women with foreign accents seemed to find Daddy more fascinating than Mama, with her soft voice and careful English.

Nights stretched long, the clack of his typewriter echoing into the darkness where Adwoa and her siblings pretended to sleep. In the morning, rumpled suits and newspapers strewn across the floor spoke of battles won and lost. His victories felt like a nation’s gains, but also a little like something stolen. Mama’s smile grew tighter, her hands always busy, always moving. In that whirlwind, love didn’t vanish, but perhaps it frayed a little. Or maybe, Adwoa would think long after, it was simply hidden behind the bigger, brighter fire of his ambition. 


The year Adwoa turned thirteen was a year of milestones and fractures.

Her body, once a familiar landscape, betrayed her with sudden curves and bleeding days she still didn’t quite understand. Her father’s attention, once warm and paternal, now flickered with a disquieting glint. His boisterous laughter seemed to catch on her curves, the pride in his eyes tinged with something she couldn’t name – possession, speculation.

One hot, humid night, a scream shattered the fragile peace of their house.

Snatches of conversation followed – harsh whispers, the sharp clink of glass shattering against the wall. It was as if the polite dance they’d all performed was over. No more skirting around the shadows that lingered in the corners of their home. Mama had finally named the beast: infidelity. Adwoa cowered in her room, her own blossoming womanhood suddenly tainted, feeling complicit by the mere fact of her changing body.

The next morning, their home was a hushed battlefield. Mama’s movements were mechanical, her touch absent as she went through the motions of making breakfast. Her eyes were bottomless pools where once joy had sparkled. Adwoa found her on the back porch, not weeping, but staring out at the garden, the vibrant blooms now seeming withered and sad. The betrayal had stolen their lifeblood.

That night, over a cold, untouched dinner, her father announced a “diplomatic trip.”

He’d always loved to travel, a whirlwind seeking an audience, a spotlight his small town could never give him. Adwoa wondered if he saw this trip as a balm, a distraction to heal the wounds he’d created. Or perhaps, in his grandiosity, he believed they’d all admire his conquests the way crowds admired his speeches.

The trip became a blur of dust-filled villages and fevered nights in makeshift lodgings. Mama, once the heart of their home, faded with each mile, the strain of hiding her broken spirit etching itself onto her face.

Then came the first baby. Not round and healthy, but thin and wailful, born not in a doctor’s care but to a young woman with haunted eyes in a dirt-floor hut. He was named Yaw, a tiny stranger with his father’s high cheekbones, a living reminder of a love shared elsewhere.

Another town, another woman, another child. A girl this time, named Ama, with skin the colour of rich, dark earth and hair that curled like her father’s smile.

Adwoa became a silent observer, her heart splitting with each new addition to their fractured, traveling family. It was as if a part of her father died with each new birth, replaced by a coldness, a distance behind his eyes that made the once-familiar stranger to her. 


Back in the city, their once orderly home became a pantomime of unspoken truths.

The half-siblings grew like wildflowers among the neatly manicured rosebushes of his political life – tolerated, occasionally acknowledged, but never truly belonging. Mama became an expert at choreographing their movements – this dinner here, that family outing there – all to avoid awkward collisions of lives that were never meant to intertwine.

Adwoa’s siblings were a constant echo of her father’s sins. She saw it in Mama’s tight smile when little Ama toddled in, in the way her brother Kwesi’s laughter rang hollow when their father’s attention was fleeting and divided. They were whispers of other lives, lives she might have had if their father hadn’t been a collector of loves he couldn’t fully cherish.

But the children were innocent, and Adwoa, despite her own pain, couldn’t help but soften towards them. In Kwesi’s bright eyes, she saw the same yearning for a real father that she felt. She helped Ama braid her unruly curls, a quiet act of rebellion against the perfect control their mother demanded.

As Adwoa grew older, the whispers of her father’s affairs became public knowledge, a scandalous undercurrent to his political ascent.

Yet, Mama stayed.

Society women whispered behind her back, a chorus of pity and quiet condemnation. Adwoa didn’t understand. Was it pride, or a stubborn refusal to let him truly win? Perhaps there was a strange comfort in the pain they knew, a warped kind of stability only built on shared betrayals.

Years flowed into decades, marked by political milestones and children whose faces became familiar fixtures on the edges of their lives. Adwoa left for university, first in England, then across the ocean to America. Distance became her armor, a way to escape the suffocating expectations of her homeland, to craft a life that wasn’t defined by her father’s shadow.

Yet, no matter how far she ran, the past clung like a burr. Sometimes, in the faces of strangers, she would see flashes of her siblings, glimpses of paths her own life could have taken. Her father’s legacy stretched across continents, woven into the very fabric of Ghana and into the ache she carried with her, a complicated grief mixed with a reluctant, grudging admiration for the complex, flawed man that was her father. 

Adwoa never truly knew her father. He was a figure woven from snippets of memory, Mama’s guarded stories, and the shadows that fell across their too-quiet home. The whispers of his other children, those with different mothers and different lives, were never far from her own existence, a constant reminder of absences. But the most potent source of insight came later, with trembling hands and a heart too full of ghosts.


Mama had always been a keeper of things – neat piles of faded photographs, birthday cards, bundled newspapers marking important dates in his political career. Yet, the most treasured trove was hidden in an old wooden box under her bed. Letters. Stacks of them, yellowed with age and laced with a script so familiar, so achingly Mama’s.

Night after night, Adwoa became an archaeologist of emotion, carefully unwrapping decades of love, longing, and disappointment. In her mother’s youthful hand, the early years bloomed with a bright, almost naive joy. There, her father was not the whirlwind orator, but a young man with eyes full of dreams both personal and political. Her letters spoke of laughter over shared meals, books debated long into the night, and a burning faith in his potential.

Then came the change, so subtle at first she nearly missed it. The distance during his time at Harvard stretched into something colder, the warmth replaced by formal phrases. In his responses, his own ambition began to take precedence, the ‘we’ slowly becoming ‘I’. There were mentions of new friends, a woman named Beatrice with a sharp wit, and veiled references to a life that excluded Mama.

The betrayals bloomed within these pages, not in grand declarations but in silences. Missed birthdays, apologies veiled as political commitments, letters tinged with the stale scent of unfamiliar perfume. Mama’s voice, initially fierce with pain, began to shrink, the ink fading as if she were running out of words, running out of fight.

It hurt, of course, but more than that, it was a strange revelation. Adwoa had been formed in the aftermath of this paper war – the child of a half-broken love, the sister to shadows. But now, there was nuance. Her father was not just a callous man, but one so consumed by his own brilliance that he didn’t see the collateral damage. Mama, too, surprised her with a stubborn resilience, a refusal to become an embittered footnote to his history.

Her parents’ story wasn’t a fairytale, nor was it a simple tragedy. It was a complicated tapestry, with bright threads of genuine affection woven alongside fraying knots of loss and regret. And Adwoa, with history laid bare in her lap, finally felt a strange sort of peace. Her own life, her choices, became clearer, informed by the echoes of the past. Her past, her legacy… all these from the spaces in between letters. 

One particular letter stood out, a single folded sheet in Mama’s neat script, dated March 6th, 1962. Ghana’s Independence Day, a celebration of the nation, yet within these lines, Adwoa read only the quiet collapse of a personal dream:

Dearest Kwame,
The fireworks were lovely, as always. Bright bursts of color against the dark sky. I stood on our balcony with Adwoa, she clapped and laughed, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of that old joy. But then I looked around the crowds and realised you weren't there. 

Another Independence celebration, another speech I heard on the radio instead of beside you. Remember when this day was about us, too? About the future we'd build together? It's foolish to feel this way, I know. You have your grand purpose, and I am… well, I am here, tending to what's left.
With love, as always,

The date, like a red-circled indictment, spoke volumes. March ’62 was when little Ama was born – the girl with the dark earth skin and her father’s easy grin. The fireworks, the celebration, the crowds – he’d been performing his role as a rising star of the new Ghana, while another woman, a woman he had never even mentioned, laboured in some unknown room.

The sting of that revelation wasn’t merely in the betrayal. It was the casual cruelty of it. That even on a day imbued with national pride, when unity and hope were meant to eclipse all else, he had compartmentalised his life with such ruthless ease. In Mama’s carefully chosen words, Adwoa read the pain, but also a dawning anger, a fire still flickering beneath the ashes.

She found his response tucked beneath, dated a few weeks later. It was longer, filled with justifications disguised as logic. He spoke of the importance of his work, of how building a nation demanded sacrifices. His words were like polished pebbles, meant to soothe, yet they felt slippery and false in Adwoa’s hands. There was a single mention of ‘circumstances beyond his control’, and while no names were spoken, his meaning was clear.

These two letters were like snapshots of a turning point. Before, his infidelity had been a rumour, a shadow whispered in corners. But with this cold exchange, it became a hard truth, a divide they could never ignore. Looking at these pieces of paper, Adwoa saw not just her history, but a map unfurling. This was the moment, she realised, when Mama’s love finally bent, perhaps didn’t break completely, but shifted into something more self-preserving, less all-consuming. And Adwoa understood. 

In the weeks following that quiet epiphany, Adwoa became obsessed with dates and cross-references. Each letter was a puzzle piece, its true meaning revealed in the context of others around it. She mapped out his political tours against the hazy memories of new siblings unexpectedly appearing in their lives, calculated gaps in correspondence against birthdays marked on Mama’s old calendars.

It was as if by decoding the past, she hoped to unlock some secret key to understanding her own heart. Her father, it seemed, wasn’t just drawn to other women, he was drawn to brilliant ones. There was Beatrice, the Harvard academic whose letters buzzed with intellectual sparring that matched his own. There was Yejide, a Nigerian journalist whose sharp wit and political fire were reflected in his increasingly global ambitions. These weren’t mere dalliances; they were a testament to his hunger for minds as restless and ambitious as his own.

Did a part of him feel trapped by Mama’s quiet domesticity, once so charming? Did those fleeting moments when he looked at Adwoa with that unsettling intensity stem from seeing in her the potential he’d stifled in the woman who raised her? The questions echoed without comfortable answers, yet within them lay a strange power.

One moonlit night, perched on the edge of her bed, Adwoa did something Mama never had the courage, or perhaps the cruelty, to do. She sorted the letters by name. Beatrice. Yejide. Three more names she didn’t recognise, women scattered across continents bound by a shared mistake.

Each bundle of letters was its own tragedy in miniature. There were the echoes of youthful passion, replaced over time by a tired familiarity, then silence. It was like watching a slow-motion car crash, and Adwoa realised – he’d never stopped. Throughout his life, right up until his heart gave out at a podium during a fiery speech, there were always whispers, always suitcases packed for impromptu trips, always new faces appearing briefly at family gatherings before disappearing again.

He had loved grandly, selfishly, leaving a trail of hearts – and lives – in his wake. Some women, like those early years with Mama, had bent with the tempestuous winds. Others, Adwoa suspected, had splintered under the force of his relentless need. She wondered which she would have been, had she been born in a different time, to a different mother, in a world less harsh. Wondered, too, who she was now because of how things had unfurled.

In the end, the puzzle was never truly complete. There were too many missing pieces, too many silent voices. But the spaces between those letters held their own truth: her father, the nation-builder, was also a man built on fractures. And in those fractures, a whole ecosystem of lives sprouted – some broken, some resilient, all undeniably his legacy. 

The final years of his life were a blur of names and dates in Adwoa’s reckoning. The women, once distinct with their own personalities and ambitions, faded into a pattern: bright flames ignited, burned, then ultimately dimmed. But one letter, weathered and tucked into a forgotten corner of Mama’s box, broke that cycle. It was not in her mother’s hand, nor one of his usual conquests. Instead, it was on simple, lined paper, the script shaky and filled with misspellings.

Dear Mrs. Efua, it started, and Adwoa felt her stomach clench.

I am writting because I do not no who else. My name is Esi. I worked for your husband in Kumasi for many years. He was kind. He helped me and my children when my own husband…well, it is not important. I do not want to cause you troubles, but there is a child. A boy. His name is Kofi, born six years past. No one knows but me, and now you.

The letter went on, a simple and heartbreaking plea. Esi was struggling, the kindness of Adwoa’s father now gone, leaving her alone and afraid. She didn’t ask for money, just… acknowledgment. A chance for young Kofi to know where he came from, to have a connection to his half-siblings, who, by this time, Adwoa was sure numbered in the dozens.

There was no date on this letter, no way to know if Mama had ever read it, ever responded. Did she hide it away, the proof of this final betrayal too much alongside the others?

Grief hit Adwoa in waves – for this woman, Esi, with her quiet despair, for yet another child born into shadow, and for Mama, who had perhaps borne this final blow in the silent isolation she’d perfected over a lifetime.

Had her father loved his children, all of them? Had he kept track, remembered their names? Or were they merely fleeting sparks left in his grand, world-changing wake? Adwoa found herself wishing Esi had asked for something, demanded something. It would have been simpler to despise her father if there had been malice to counter the negligence. Yet, all she found was a tired sort of echo. He built nations while splintering hearts, not because he was evil, but because he never quite learned that they were one and the same.

She would never know what happened with Kofi, whether any connection was forged, whether another child was added to their impossible, sprawling family. But sometimes, late at night, she imagines herself tracking him down. Not out of duty, but a strange, twisted curiosity. In him, maybe she would find the final piece of the puzzle, or maybe just another mirror, reflecting back the intricate, bittersweet legacy of the man whose souvenirs were lives he carelessly shaped. 

Amidst the neatly stacked piles of unanswered pleas and fading love letters, a single envelope stood out. It was addressed to Mama with her formal titles, the ink in her father’s bold, familiar strokes. Adwoa hesitated, a sense of violation settling upon her. This felt different, a relic not meant for her eyes, and yet, it was here, nestled in history’s debris.

With trembling fingers, she broke the brittle seal. The date was etched into her mind – March 12th, 1978. It was weeks after his infamous collapse on the podium, the speech left unfinished, his grand narrative abruptly cut short. Inside, the words blurred at first, then sharpened into focus:

My Dearest Efua,
Perhaps it is foolish to write this, knowing what stands between us. But in these quiet hours, as my body betrays me, it is your face that haunts me. Yours, and the children. I built a world, Efua, a world I believed in. Some would call it greatness, others mere ambition. But as I sit here, with the silence pressing down, I realise greatness is hollow without its foundation. And you, my steadfast, stubborn Efua, you were my foundation.
I wronged you. Not with malice, but with a blindness I cannot excuse. I sought out my reflection in those brilliant women, a desperate attempt to validate my own restless mind. Yet, it is your quiet strength that now echoes with the most potent truth. Forgive me, if you can. Or simply know that in my final hours, it was your name on my lips, not the roaring of the crowd.
Your husband, always,
Kwame

Adwoa read the letter again, and again, trying to find a lie within the words, to feel the cool comfort of anger. He’d been selfish to the very end, his confession framed not as apology, but another grand pronouncement. Yet, a sliver of doubt lingered. Was it genuine remorse, or simply a dying man trying to tidy up his story, seeking some final absolution?

The truth, Adwoa realised, didn’t matter. His intention was unknowable, lost within the spaces of a heart that had stopped beating long ago. But the effect…the effect was undeniable. A lifetime of carefully cultivated resentment wavered. It didn’t excuse his sins, but it painted them in a new shade of grey, adding a layer of messy, human frailty to the myth of the man she’d spent her life trying to understand.

The next morning, Adwoa did something unprecedented. She drove to Mama’s quiet bungalow, the letter tucked into her purse like a live coal. Her mother, now bent and fragile with age, greeted her with surprise. In the stillness of that familiar living room, amidst the fading photographs and the too-quiet air, Adwoa simply placed the letter on the table.

Mama stared, brow furrowed. And then, after an eternity, she simply nodded, a single tear tracing a path down her weathered cheek. They didn’t speak of it, neither of them ever did. But in that one shared moment, amidst all the wreckage of the past, something shifted. Perhaps not forgiveness, perhaps not understanding, but a grudging acceptance of complexities. A testament to the fact that even the most fractured stories can have a warped sort of beauty, when pieced together amidst the echoes and the shadows. 

In the years that followed, Adwoa would often remember that single tear, that unspoken exchange with her mother. It never led to a heart-to-heart, no unburdening of decades of pain. Mama wasn’t one for grand confessions, and Adwoa herself preferred the refuge of careful distance. Yet, there was a change, a softening of the brittle edges.

With the shared secret of his final letter hovering between them, some of the tension seemed to dissipate. They’d sit on the porch in a companionable silence, sipping tea while Adwoa’s own children frolicked in the garden. Mama would smile, a genuine, unguarded smile that Adwoa hadn’t witnessed in years. It was as if, at long last, they’d made a truce with the ghosts.

Adwoa found her own life mirroring some of those long-ago patterns, albeit with sharp twists born of her own stubborn will. She loved fiercely, but with hard-won boundaries. There were men, passionate and bright, but none who ever fully owned her. Her career took her across continents, a whirlwind to match his, but one she deliberately charted and controlled.

Her children were her anchors, their laughter a balm to the lingering ache. Sometimes, with her little girl on her lap, Adwoa would recount stories of Ghana, not of the politician and his grand speeches, but of the way the sunlight painted the bougainvillea a fierce pink, of the sweet-tangy bite of mangoes bought from the noisy market. It was her way of weaving a different kind of legacy, one rooted in the ordinary brilliance of a life her father had never truly seen.

The siblings – the ones she knew of, and the imagined others – became an odd source of comfort. She wondered about them: Kofi, the son of a woman with trembling hands; Ama with her ready laugh; Yaw, thin and defiant. Had they survived the complicated echo of their father’s life? Built empires of their own? Or did they, too, carry the weight of what might have been?

In her quieter moments, Adwoa imagined a grand gathering, a sprawling, chaotic family reunion. She’d stand at the edge of it all and watch her own children mingle with this tapestry of faces born of a single, ambitious man. Some, perhaps would resemble him, others their mothers, and all would carry his legacy in their blood and bones, for better or for worse.

It was a fantasy, of course, one destined to remain within the pages of her imagination. Their paths were too scattered, the wounds too deep for some. Yet, the thought of it made her smile a knowing smile. For amidst that strange assembly, they would finally understand the true meaning of their father’s ambition. His legacy lay not in the history books, not in the carefully crafted speeches, but in the lives he touched, shaped, sometimes broke, and ultimately brought into being. They were his souvenirs, his scattered, echoing poem. A poem, Adwoa thought, that she herself was still in the process of writing. 

Time, that great eraser, continued to smooth some of the sharper edges. Mama passed away peacefully, surrounded by the grandchildren she’d adored. Adwoa returned to Ghana then, not as a visitor, but with a sense of tentative homecoming. Her father’s old home, once a place of shadows and complicated memories, felt simply old. Walls once vibrant with noise, now held a quiet melancholy.

It was there, in his dusty study, that a final surprise awaited. In a hidden drawer, Adwoa found a stack of letters – not the romantic sort, but a lifetime of political correspondence. Notes to foreign leaders, drafts of unfinished speeches, scathing critiques of rivals. Amidst the brittle pages was a single sheet of paper, her own name scribbled at the top: “Dearest Adwoa.”

He’d started a letter to her. No grand confession, no sweeping apologies. Yet, the simple address, the uncompleted lines, were more eloquent than any finished declaration ever could be. It was an acknowledgement, however late, that she wasn’t just fallout from his grand design, but a person worthy of seeing, of knowing, of loving in her own right.

And that night, sitting on the familiar porch under a sky filled with unfamiliar stars, Adwoa began to write her own letter. Not to him, that would be a futile conversation. It was, instead, a letter to her scattered siblings – to Kofi, to Ama, to the others she might never meet.

She spoke of shared memories: the scent of dust on a harmattan wind, the taste of roasted plantains, the echoing boom of her father’s voice. She shared not judgment, but a simple truth: their lives, for better or for worse, were woven together by a force beyond their control. And she extended an invitation, not for a tidy family reunion, but for connection, should they ever desire it.

With every word, the shadows seemed to lift. She found herself not just remembering, but creating a new narrative – one where the broken pieces were still sharp, but formed a mosaic of their own intricate beauty. 


Dearest Siblings,
Perhaps these words will never reach you. Perhaps you'll stumble upon them by chance, or maybe they'll simply gather dust alongside all the other unfinished things he left behind. It doesn't truly matter, does it? The act of writing is for me, as much as it is for you.
I'm Adwoa, the eldest daughter, the one who spent the most time in the eye of the storm. I remember him, of course. It's a strange thing, to remember a father who belongs to a whole nation, a father who left his mark not just on us, but on this entire country. Remember the harmattan mornings, the dust so thick you could taste it, the way it clung to his suits as he left for another speech? That dust is in our blood, I think, a reminder that we are all made from the same earth.
Ama, if you're out there, do you still laugh like you did as a child? That open-mouthed, fearless laugh your mother said wouldn't last. It was how I always found you among the crowds... following the sound of joy to where you were. And Kofi, I wonder if your hands are clever like Esi's, if you learned to fix things or build them up from nothing, like she did. And the others, whose names remain shadows to me... what echoes do you carry of the man who brought you into being?
I won't lie. It hasn't been easy. There's a loneliness in being one of many, a strange ache for a father who could never truly be mine alone. But you know what I've learned? Our stories don't end with him. They branch out, twist in unexpected ways, become our own. I have children – two bright, stubborn things who look nothing like me or him, and yet, there are moments.... moments where I see a spark of his restless energy in their eyes.
I don't need you to forgive him. I don't even know if I have. But there's a strange space opening up, a space between anger and love, where maybe, just maybe, there's room for a complicated kind of understanding. Maybe we can build something from the wreckage, or at least find solace in the fact that we're not alone in it. Should you ever want to try, know that I am here. We won't rewrite the past, but perhaps, together, we can write a different kind of future.
Your sister, in a way only we can truly understand,
Adwoa

***

Adwoa never sent the letter, of course. Some truths are better left unvoiced, some connections destined to only exist within the spaces between words. It was enough that it existed. It was enough to fill in her own missing pieces, to redefine the spaces in between the legacy she’d been born into, and the life she’d fiercely carved out. In the act of laying bare her own complicated inheritance, she felt a lightness she hadn’t known in years. It was a strange sort of homecoming, not to a place, but to the tangled, bittersweet, and utterly unique truth of her own heart.

Her story, like her father’s, would always be messy and incomplete. But in the spaces between letters, in those silences she chose to fill, lay a quiet kind of power.

With surprise, I learned of the resolution passed by Ghana’s esteemed parliament to introduce the use of local languages in their proceedings following the Easter recess.

It’s not only a laughable endeavour but follows a laughable and rather concerning trend of majoring in the minors at the expense of pressing national issues. On a Skype call with some acquaintances in China, we laughed about the symbolic gesture masquerading as progress – to put it more accurately, they laughed at me.

Whereas the symbolic allure of using local languages in Ghana’s parliament might seem like a well-intentioned notion, it is a misguided one and only goes to highlights the troubling tendency of the our lawmakers to prioritise headline-grabbing actions

This isn’t merely an ill-conceived notion; it’s a pattern under the current house, a pattern suggesting a disconnect between grand gestures and the gritty realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.

Let’s unpack why this language overhaul will prove more obstructive than inclusive:

Impracticality on a Grand Scale: Ghana boasts a rich tapestry of languages. This is usually a source of pride, but will soon become a logistical nightmare in Parliament should each language be duly represented.

Eʋegbe alone, for instance, has at least 4 core linguistic branches that are actively spoken in Ghana – branches that differ so much that there are words in Aŋlɔ that you wouldn’t easily translate into Fongbe or Tɔŋu. Some academic researchers claim there are up to 32 variations of the Ewe language spoken in Ghana.

Which of these numerous Ghanaian local languages will be prioritised for used in parliament?

Imagine real-time, accurate translation amidst heated debates, nuanced policy discussions, and the need for immediate, precise communication. We risk turning legislative proceedings into a linguistic Tower of Babel, stifling efficiency and breeding potential misinterpretation.

Resources: A Question of Priorities: Quality translators, fluent not just in the basics of these languages but in the specialised jargon of law and policy, are not easy to come by. Does the state possess the financial resources and training facilities for such a massive undertaking? 

And even if the state does possess these resources, are these funds not better used addressing the dire straits of our education system or crumbling healthcare infrastructure?

The Illusion of Inclusivity:  The very citizens this plan supposedly serves might well be those most ostracised by it. Many Ghanaians are multilingual, yes, but there’s a vast difference between everyday colloquialism and the intricacies of legislative debate.

Whereas the cultural objectives of the state are entrenched constitutionally in Chapter 5, Article 39 (3), this doesn’t supersede English being the official language of Ghana. And what parliament conducts is official business, notwithstanding how chaotic and unordained their behaviour can look like to us sometimes.

Instead of opening the doors of Parliament, we risk alienating those without fluency in the select languages deemed worthy of the floor.

Distraction from Real Issues: This misplaced focus smacks of political expediency rather than genuine nation-building. Where are the bold plans to curb youth unemployment? Revitalise our stagnant economy? Tackle the corruption that permeates government institutions? 

The Ghanaian Parliament stands accused of fiddling with language while Rome burns on issues of actual consequence.

However, this is just to be expected, it isn’t the first such grand symbolic gesture to come out of the NPP administration. Recall the lavish expenditure on the National Cathedral amidst crumbling social safety nets. Recall the renaming frenzy at the expense of addressing the underlying factors hindering the institutions in question.

If Parliament now desires to champion Ghana’s languages, let them do so effectively:

  • Invest in Endangered Languages: Fund grassroots revitalisation programs with educators and communities holding the knowledge.
  • Multilingual Educational Models: Promote early childhood programs to foster true fluency and cultural appreciation.
  • Translation Initiatives: Sponsor the translation of important national documents making accessibility a reality, not a soundbite.

Ghana’s diversity should be a source of strength, not paralysis. While language is vital, efficient governance cannot be sacrificed on the altar of superficial symbolism. True inclusive governance is built on a Parliament capable of making clear-headed decisions on  matters of national urgency.

Ghanaians deserve more than symbolic gestures. Linguistic diversity is an asset, but let it not become a smokescreen for inaction on the very real problems that plague our nation. It’s time for the Ghanaian Parliament to focus on substance, on genuine nation-building, and on solutions that improve the lives of all citizens, not just those who speak a select few languages.

Our parliamentarians must be held to a higher standard – one that demands solutions tailored to Ghana’s needs, not self-serving theatrics.

sun 18 feb, ’24

The vacant silence chokes the room,
A heavy shroud where words would bloom.
No gentle touch, no whispered plea,
Just hardened hearts where love should be.

The air hangs thick with things unsaid,
Regret and anger leave us lead.
The empty space between us grows,
Where understanding softly froze.

A whispered sigh, a tear unshed,
The vacant silence fills with dread.
We crave a truce, a fragile start,
To mend the chasm in our hearts.
ALTERNATE TITLE: Does my chatbot have a big mouth? (And why you should subscribe to find out)

Hey folks! Just wanted to take a minute to talk about the latest weird and wonderful addition to my little corner of the internet – a chatbot! I know, I know, you’re probably bombarded with bots all the time. But hear me out, this one’s a little different.

For starters, its primary mission is not to sell you overpriced widgets or answer questions about the weather. Instead, I’ve designed this friendly bot to get to know you better so I can deliver the freshest, most interesting content straight to your inbox.

Think of it as your inside scoop on the things that interest me, and a lot of things interest me – startups and business, tech trends, love life, cooking adventures, media business, food fails and recently economic and social policies.

My chatbot, who’s still working on a decent name, starts with a simple question: “Can you talk?”. No, it’s not an existential crisis. The answer simply lets it know if you’re up for a little (completely optional) conversational fun. Think of it as a warm-up before it drops the real question: “Want to subscribe to my super amazing, maybe slightly quirky newsletter?”

Why You Should Listen to a Chatbot (Just This Once)

Okay, I know the idea of getting updates from a chatbot might sound a bit weird. But here’s the thing:

  • No spam, I promise: You’ll only get genuinely fun and helpful stuff. Think of it like a quick burst of inbox sunshine.
  • You’re in control: Choose the kinds of topics that make you smile, and only what YOU find interesting.
  • Early Access: Get those behind-the-scenes tidbits and maybe even some exclusive deals…shhh, just between us.

Is My Chatbot a Chatterbox?

All you have to do is answer one simple question: Can you talk? If the answer is “yes” (and let’s face it, you’re reading this so it probably is), then my chatbot and I want to get to know you better. It’ll only take a minute and then you can decide if you like our newsletter vibes.

[typebot typebot=”newsletter-bot” host=”https://bot.myw.ms” lib_version=”0.2.41″ width=”100%” height=”600px”]

I’ve always been a sucker for a good story.

Not just the quick news bites and headlines, but the kind of stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished the last line – the ones that dig beneath the surface to reveal the complexities of a situation, the hopes and struggles of real people, or the injustices that demand action.

I have worked long enough in the media scene and have been lucky enough to see the power of this kind of storytelling. I’ve witnessed how a single in-depth “story” can shift public opinion, expose wrongdoing, and spark movements for change.

That deep impact is what inspired my personal manifesto: “tell better stories.” Because better stories lead to better understanding, to better empathy, and, ultimately, to a better world. But “better stories” are not just in terms of writing; I believe everything we do and how we do is is a story we are telling. And, tell better stories, we must!

When Stories Go Untold

Unfortunately, here’s the hard truth: truly in-depth reporting is expensive. It demands time, travel, interviews, and sometimes even resources like translators or access to specialized archives. Newsrooms rarely have the budgets to prioritize weeks-long investigations. Freelancers often can’t afford to finance complex projects on their own.

The result? Vital stories about our communities, nations, and the whole complex tapestry of Africa go untold. The hidden systems, the overlooked voices, and the root causes of our most pressing problems remain in the shadows.

That’s why I decided not just to dream about change, but to do something about it.

Introducing the “One Big Story” Journalism Micro Grant.

What is One Big Story? Details & Mission

Each month, I’ll personally provide up to USD 5501 to one journalist2 or a team of journalists. These resources are earmarked specifically for stories focused on any of the English or French-speaking countries in Africa. My hope is that this grant will become a lifeline for passionate reporters who need that extra push to bring their important investigations to light.

I’m calling on experienced journalists, passionate freelancers, and creative teams with stellar story ideas. It doesn’t matter if you’re affiliated with a big news outlet or working entirely on your own – what matters is the quality of your pitch and your dedication to shining a light on an under-reported issue.

I will be sharing more details about the submission process and timelines on a dedicated website shortly. For now, the “launch” is scheduled to be in line with Ghana’s Independence Day celebration on 6th March 2024.

Collaboration & review

To help me run this grant project, I am assembling a “Sounding Board” of seasoned journalists and editors. Their invaluable expertise will guide me in the selection process as we consider all submitted pitches. We’ll prioritize stories with the potential to spark constructive dialogue, reveal truths, and inspire genuine engagement.

Initially, due to the personal nature of this project, this grant administration will be primarily guided by myself until I am done registering the foundation arm of WMS in Ghana.

The Future of “One Big Story”

My ambition is for this to be the seed of something much larger. The ultimate goal is to establish a robust foundation capable of supporting journalism from a truly pan-African perspective. For now, we’re starting with one story at a time – but oh, the potential those stories hold!

Get involved with One Big Story

As a participating journalist

Stay tuned – very soon, I’ll be sharing guidelines, specific submission criteria, and all those logistical details on this blog. Applications will open shortly after 6th March 2024, so prepare those pitches! But even if you’re not a journalist yourself, please help spread the word within your networks. It’s time to empower those who hold the keys to a brighter future through better storytelling.

As a participating publisher

I will be sharing guidelines on how media houses and publisher can become a part of “One Big Story” – after all, all good stories deserve a place to live. We would be throughly vetting all publishers to make sure that each story3 gets the “best home” even though some might just be published on the One Big Story website. In the future, I plan to explore a story licensing model that will make the journalists even gain more financial support. You can rest assured that the final stories would worthy of any top publisher

This project fills me with excitement, and a sincere hope that we can truly uncover the “big stories” Africa deserves.

Let’s do this!

Footnotes

1 – the amount is going to be disbursed in the local currency equivalent of the selected journalist; the amount quoted is the maximum cap per story, the final amount will be decided based on complexities of the pitch presented; USD 550 is a starting amount and will be adjusted

2 – journalist here is used loosely; you don’t have to be a journalist before submitting a pitch however it does help to have some previous experience with storytelling

3 – story doesn’t have to be a written article; it can be in many forms – video, podcast, infographic etc

So here’s a funny story.

So, I have this mentee – bright, young professional, lots of potential. I have forgotten what we were actually discussing but I mention how I was having a discussion with my “life coach” and she immediately jumped.

You should have seen her face! It was like someone switched out her usual 7:00AM beans stew for sawdust. Pure shock. The girl couldn’t believe that her mentor also has a mentor.

Here’s the thing, and I guess this is what she and a lot of young people seem to miss: No one reaches the top alone. You never get too experienced or too knowledgeable to stop growing and learning from others. We tend to have this idea that the people we look up to must be these superhuman self-made gurus with all the answers. Truth is, many of them have people who advise them, challenge them, and help them find that next level within themselves.

To be fair, my life coaches (or mentors) are not really in that everyday sense of a mentor where we talk almost every day – but I do believe in talking to certain key people to “pick their brain” on life topics.

Now, picture this: those long business chats about strategy over some chilled beer with a side of gossip about the industry? Yep, Gerhard M might gets the full scoop (and Gerhard would rather call me his mentor, but we bounce off each other). Struggling with balancing my busy schedule and the fact that I still want some semblance of a social life? Believe me, Ibukun O. gets an earful and then lays out some actionable tips.

Mentorship is not for the week
Mentorship is not for the weak / Image via Google AI

That one project at work giving me headaches and making me wonder if I’m even cut out for this whole career thing? It’s mentor to the rescue with encouragement and practical strategies.

And that’s what made me chuckle about my mentee’s reaction. I may be coaching her, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get coached right back. There’s something humbling and exciting about never settling, admitting there’s always room to improve.

Don’t limit yourself. It’s not embarrassing to need guidance, whether you’re fresh out of university or the CEO of a company.

Find yourself a mentor (or two). Invest in some coaching. The whole “mentors are for the weak” is outdated thinking; the strongest among us are the ones who always want to become even better. It’s what sets you up for real wins and shows you how to level up, not once, but throughout your whole journey.

Carolee Thea, Sabine Woman, 1991. Chicken wire, electrical wire, sockets, bulbs, sound, dimensions variable. ©1991/2018 Carolee Thea.

2:37 AM

Someone somewhere somehow, can very well accuse me of rape or sexual harassment.

When I say “rape” above, I do not mean “the violent and aggravated assault” you picture in your mind, but the “coaxing and plead-beg-threaten” approach to sex that we have come to accept as okay.

As I recollect all my sexual encounters, I realized some of them could have ended up as non-sexual encounters, had I not been a “little too persistent” or a “little too pushy”. I have italicized the two because even as I write this at 2:38 AM, I know that the other party probably did not feel that it was a “little”. They might have felt overwhelmed and finally “gave in” — I know this, but my brain — with years of social conditioning — is trying to make me understand that “the most masculine thing to do in those situations was Plead, Beg, Threaten”.

So yeah, I could very well be accused of rape — and I could very well be guilty. This accusation can come from my ex-partners (or current) and there would be very little (or no) excuse or justification for it.

#BreakTheSilence

I woke up to the hashtag, #BreakTheSilence trending on my Twitter account. I woke up at 2:12 AM.

As I usually would do, I looked through the tweets with a knot forming in my throat, the stories were very haunting — not because they were too strange or unbelievable, but because there were “too normal”. The stories being posted by victims of sexual harassment on the TL were stories I could imagine or had experienced before.

2:25 AM

I came across @miss_laryea2’s #MeToo story. Her story is similar to a lot of the ones being posted; boy visits girl (or the other way around); boy feels entitled to sex; girl refuses; boy forces himself on her; boy cums and then end of the story.

Only, it is not the end of the story.

If anything at all, it is the beginning of the story. The beginning of the trauma and the flashbacks. To put it in perspective, I don’t remember what I wore or ate on my 18th birthday, but @miss_laryea2 remembers the song playing in the background as she was being abused. This, surely, must sound like a small detail, but that song is ruined for her forever as she put it herself,

I can’t even listen to Joey B’s Otoolege cos that was song playing when he was forcing himself on me.

Imagine the memories that come flooding her thoughts anytime a DJ at a party or on a radio station plays the song!

24th August 2019

This was the day I met @miss_laryea2.

I didn’t know her from Eve, but as I was out with my friends at Serallio, I couldn’t help but notice this bulky-looking guy, towering over this petite female, badgering her with asks of taking her home after she had repeatedly denied the request.

In her tipsy state, @miss_laryea2 had repeatedly said no to this dude and seeing as he was relentless, I walked right up to them, lifted her in my arms away from the scene and carried her outside to stand beside our vehicle.

2:27 AM

I clicked on the #BreakTheSilence hashtag to see what other stories were being shared and come across this tweet;

To wit, “You make men visit you too much and you have collected this one too”. This was in response to @miss_laryea2’s story of her abuse.

Victim shaming? No, it is more than that!

This was a burner account, created to specifically respond to @miss_laryea2’s story.

And who would create such an account? Who else, but the deviant in @miss_laryea2’s tweet, who, even though was not named, felt a stirring in him to find a way to respond that, because someone “gives doggy” it cannot be classified as rape?

3:07 AM

Why do most women shy away from reporting their sexual abuse?

For a long time, I could not fathom this out. I remember when @kboakye92, @yawtollo and I had to rush from the office to the University of Ghana campus because a friend of mine had nearly been raped.

By the time we survived East Legon and Okponglo traffic, the abuser had moved on to join the prayer team on Sarbah field as he was a leader of one “Anagkazo” team on campus.

She gave a lot of reasons why we shouldn’t report the case to the police. I remember some of them;

  • “His father is very strict, he will probably beat him and disown him if this comes out”
  • “He is not staying at Kwapong legally, so if they investigate they will evict him”
  • “He is an athlete for the hall, they will just turn it around on me”

Despite the above, we found our way to the police station — but this made it even worse. According to the closest police post;

  • “The issue handled on University of Ghana and thus had to be handled by school authorities”
  • “Since it was attempted rape, and there was no penetration, it is not really a case”
  • “What was she even doing in the boy’s room?”

So why do most women shy away from reporting their sexual abuse? Maybe because of the excuses like the one above, or maybe like sycophants like this below;

Or this one below;

Or just because we do not create conducive environments for the sexually abused to come forward and tell their stories.

Since I have personally started being more open and providing a listening ear, I have been told a lot of sexual abuse stories by my female friends, from the stories of the uncle that would rape her at every family gathering since she was 9 years (because she developed breasts early), to the POPULAR pastor sleeping with barely-legal members of his church, down to your favourite woke pan-African poet, who still felt entitled to ex-partner’s body.

I have this assortment of abuse stories swelling in my head, and sometimes, the chief abusers are the ones of the TL tweeting in solidarity, and I feel like being the one to #BreakTheSilence on these victims’ behalf.

But like I am always reminded, these are not my stories to tell.

Yes, another first!

Today, we launched Instagram stickers (and GIFs) for a client!

To make that statement sink in even better, I will repeat it; “Today, we launched Instagram stickers (and GIFs) for a client!”

To the rest of the team at Pulse Marketing, it is just another day of implementing our crazy ideas (sometimes the crazy ideas are from the client) for a well-demanding client. We do this on a daily basis so it seems almost trite to them. But I write in complete awe of the team, and the first we are accomplishing for our partner brands within these unusual times.

We launched Instagram stickers (and GIFs) for a client and to the best of my knowledge, we are the first brands to deploy this in the region. But like my very good friend, Ernest would say, it is no use being first when there is no true story to tell behind it or a form of continuity.

That’s why it is important to mention that in addition to our WhatsApp strategy in 2016 (with which we were first in the region), FB Instant Articles ( again first in the region), use of TikTok for brand marketing ( again, first in the region), we are also first with the use of stickers for marketing to a social-first target audience.

Being first, for me is not really the story here.

The defining point of the team at Pulse Ghana (think Pulse Marketing) is how quick and ready we are to adapt to the new normals as per the audience requirements. Our job has always been to “…inform & engage — 24/7”, whether we are working on our media brand, Pulse.com.gh ( pulse.ng for Nigeria, pulselive.co.ke for Kenya and the new baby, pulse.sn for Senegal), Pulse TV, Pulse Studio or Pulse Marketing. And to be able to inform and engage Africa’s youthful population meant to be as malleable and proactive as possible when it comes to new platforms.

What has this all got to do with brand marketing?

Somehow, we missed it all. The emerging affluent African consumer (think “with purchasing power”) is as connected as the rest of the world, smartphone always in hand. “And this untapped market offers…marketers a chance to leapfrog the legacy of mass marketing and reinvent the field from the ground up.

The current optimal consumer for any brand is well-connected and looking for social stories that are engaging and true to them. This, coupled with the general youthful nature of Africa means we are dealing with consumers, that for various reasons, are utilizing social platforms in their daily decision-making through trusted referrals from posts by family and friends and first-hand experience — be it virtual or in-store!

Understanding the values of this new emerging consumer class is crucial for developing successful marketing strategies. And that is what we have been doing at Pulse Africa since 2014. Understanding the consumer and adapting to their preferences, so as to not sell them advertising for our partners, but storytelling that they feel (truly) connected to.

Want to discuss how to keep ahead of the curve for your brand? Learn more about Pulse Africa or say hello to sales@pulse.com.gh.