Kabral commemorates 40yrs of Public Service with book launch

Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, a Ghanaian Journalist, Writer and Diplomat would be launching his latest book: “I SPOKE for FREEDOM" - History and Politics of the Ghana Press on Thursday, November 26, at Alisa Hotel in Accra.

Mr Blay-Amihere, who is a 1991 Nieman Fellow, is also a Teacher, Publisher and Media Administrator.

He is the outgoing Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) and Chairman of Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television Management Board.

Thursday’s event which would highlight Blay-Amihere’s commitment to Public Service, is on the theme: “Celebrating 40 years of Public Service.”

The Book Launch is scheduled to start at 4.00pm and would be chaired by Nana Prah Agyensaim VI Omanhene of Assin Owirenkyi.

The Guest Speaker for the occasion is Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas Special Representative & Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa.

Just like the Nieman Foundation’s mission advocates, Blay-Amiherehas spent most of his working life helping “to promote and elevate the standards of journalism”.

I SPOKE FOR FREEDOM-HISTORY-AND POLITICS OF THE GHANA PRESS is a rich tapestry of perspectives on media practice and democracy; a government - press relations; press freedom, ethics and responsibility, the role of media regulatory bodies and media associations.

It examines the media and society; public relations; the law and press, governance issues for private and public media and many related issues that have defined the evolution and development of the Ghana media.

Blay-Amihere attended St Augustine's College, Cape Coast (APSU ’70) and pursued undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Ghana, Legon and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He is a Nieman Fellow - '91 - of Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Civil Law by the University of Sierra Leone in 2007.

The degree was in recognition of his invaluable contribution to strengthening ties between Sierra Leone and Ghana and for his intellectual input to the mission of the University of Sierra Leone.

He was Ghana's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone (2001-2005) and Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire (2006-2009).

In 2014 he was shortlisted in the Writers' Category of the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Awards.

He was a former President of the National Union of Ghana Students, and former Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Blay-Amihere has been a journalism educator, publisher, columnist and editor of several publications and served two terms from November 2009 as Chairman of the NMC, the statutory media regulatory body of Ghana.

He has four previous books to his credit – “Tears for a Continent – An American Diary” (1994); “Fighting for Freedom, The Autobiography of An African Journalist” (2001); “Between the Lion and the Elephant: Memoirs of an African Diplomat” (2009) and “Ayeyi PRAISES – A Celebration of Life” (2014).