The vibrant city lights of Accra have provided a platform for journalist and media entrepreneur Ishmael Awudi to highlight and amplify the voices of young achievers whose success stories and impact are often overlooked.
Ishmael is the founder and editor of Ghana News Guide (GNG), an online news platform that focuses on news stories within Ghana as well as providing unique coverage to other parts of the world regularly.
The primary objective of GNG is to ensure news stories are reported as they are, with no filters and are presented to the public in an unaltered form. In its news coverage, GNG strives for professionalism, accuracy while seeking to uphold the highest ethics of journalism.
Storytelling Passion
It was while he was still at university that Ishmael developed a strong desire to be an agent of change among the young people he felt did not have enough platforms to enable their voices to be heard.
“During my second year at university, I felt compelled to tell the stories of young achievers who were often overlooked. I wanted to amplify the voices of exceptional young people like me, who were excelling in various disciplines,” Ishmael explains.
“This passion led me to a freelance role at renowned Akan media in Ghana. However, my vision was sidelined, as I was pushed to cover events and politics – topics I believed were already overexposed.
“This experience exposed me to a harsh reality that Ghana’s mainstream media seldom pays attention to young people who are leaving their mark and making extraordinary strides in their fields,” adds Ishmael.
Entrepreneurship Mentality
Far from being discouraged, Ishmael was determined to realize his dream and began taking the necessary steps to transform his thoughts and aspirations into reality.
“I launched a YouTube channel and Facebook page to share the interviews I conducted. I was fueled by the belief that journalism should serve a greater good and make a real impact and this led me to establish Ghana News Guide.
“I set up the media organization shortly after completing my tertiary education, using savings from my National Service as well as the support that I managed to receive from friends and family.”
Impressive Numbers
Today, Ghana News Guide boasts over 84 000 readers, with four full-time staff, and collaborates with six student writers and contributors from across Ghana.
Ishmael’s goal is to build a media conglomerate that empowers young talent and tells stories that unearth potential locally and globally, creating a more balanced and inclusive narrative for our society.
“Also, I believe in the transformative power of information. In my community, one of the greatest needs is empowering the youth, many of whom struggle with low self-esteem and lack opportunities to showcase their potential.
“To address this, I have created a platform that highlights the stories of young achievers, providing them with the opportunity to share their journeys and inspire others. Through these stories, I aim to motivate and uplift the youth, helping them recognize their strengths and potential.
“My work not only amplifies the voices of these young achievers but also fosters a culture of inspiration and ambition among Ghanaian youth. By telling these stories, I am contributing to a more positive and empowered generation, one that believes in its ability to make meaningful contributions to society.”
Fruitful Partnerships
To facilitate both inclusion and fair representation, Ishmael and his GNG team actively partner with organizations and events that champion diverse causes.
They once collaborated with the Galamsey Exhibition to raise awareness about illegal mining and the Strategic Youth Network for Development, an NGO focused on climate justice.
“Additionally, I have worked with platforms like the Ghana Event Summits, Kasanufo Public Speaking and the Consumer Protection Agency to amplify various perspectives. One impactful moment was my collaboration with the Strategic Youth Network, where I featured young activists from different backgrounds advocating for environmental sustainability.
“By giving them a platform to share their stories, I helped bring attention to climate justice issues that often go unnoticed. This not only broadened the audience’s awareness but empowered the activists by highlighting their efforts to diverse groups within the community, promoting inclusion and change,” Ishmael notes.
Overcoming Challenges
Along the way, Ishmael has been confronted with a number of challenges. By tackling them head-on, he has learnt to navigate past these obstacles and has emerged on the other side with many useful lessons.
“One of the biggest challenges that I faced was during my time as a freelance journalist at Akan Media. I joined them with the intention of highlighting the stories of underrepresented young achievers.
“However, I was consistently assigned to cover events and political stories, which I felt were already oversaturated in the media. This mismatch in focus left me frustrated and questioning my place in the field.
“But rather than giving up, I decided to take control of my own narrative. I created a YouTube channel and Facebook page where I could feature the stories, I was passionate about—young achievers excelling in their fields. Eventually, this evolved into the founding Ghana News Guide, which now serves as a platform dedicated to sharing these stories.
“This experience taught me resilience and the importance of taking initiative. It helped me grow as a leader by pushing me to create opportunities when existing systems did not align with my vision, ultimately shaping me into a more independent and proactive professional,” Ishamel explains.
