Professor Akua Biritwum has made history as the first-ever female Chair of the National Media Commission (NMC) since its establishment in 1993.
The milestone was marked during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Accra and officiated by Court of Appeal Judge, His Lordship Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah. The 18-member Commission, drawn from diverse sectors, will serve a three-year term.
Prof. Biritwum, one of two presidential appointees to the NMC, was elected Chair immediately after the swearing-in. Her appointment is being hailed as a significant advancement for gender representation and media governance in Ghana.
Among the new members is Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, representing the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). With over two decades of leadership in the media industry, Sunkwa-Mills is widely respected for his advocacy for media independence and balanced regulatory practices.
The Commission’s membership reflects the multi-stakeholder design outlined under Article 166 of the 1992 Constitution. It includes representatives from institutions such as the Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Bar Association, Parliament, religious bodies, and civil society organizations.
The National Media Commission plays a crucial role in promoting media freedom and responsibility in Ghana, and the new leadership is expected to continue strengthening the media landscape.
Read the statement below:
COMMUNIQUE
New NMC Members Sworn-in; First Female Chair Elected
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ACCRA, May 28, 2025
A Court of Appeal Judge, His Lordship Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah, swore-in new members of the National Media Commission (NMC) at the Supreme Court in Accra on Wednesday.
The newly sworn-in members later elected Prof. Akua Biritwum as the Chair of the 18-member Commission who will serve for a tenure of three years.
Prof. Biritwum makes history as the first ever female chairperson of NMC since it was established in 1993. She is one of two representatives of the Office of the President on the NMC.
Per Article 166 of the 1992 Constitution, the NMC is constituted by identified institutions, including the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) represented by Cecil Sunkwa-Mills.
Mr. Sunkwa-Mills has over 20 years of senior and executive media management experience, interfaced with regular regulatory and legal engagement experience, passionately advocating for independent broadcasting and defending the interests of both private and state broadcasters, print media and new media development and its related technologies in Ghana and some African countries.
Having served on the Executive Council of GIBA for 8 years, and a decade of leadership at Ghana’s largest pay media entity provides him with the skills and insights necessary for the orderly development of independent broadcasting, print and new media. under his leadership, GIBA has been able to effectively address some of the training needs of members of the Media Coalition ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the challenges of our dynamic media landscape.
Cecil possesses a deep understanding of the critical need for a balanced regulatory approach that safeguards individuals and society from harmful content while upholding the fundamental right to freedom of expression. His exceptional lead engagement and negotiation skills with media, state and public agencies, work teams and other stakeholders, and particularly with government in harmonizing decisions related to media in the supreme interest of Ghana have contributed largely to some sector impactful policy changes and advancements resulting in landmark legal decisions that have positively influenced the media industry.
He is committed to the vision of reengineering state-owned media into viable operations through innovation, technological advancement, audience engagement, and digital transformation. As a founding member of the Media Coalition, he had the opportunity of playing a pivotal role in the Coalition, to enhance media visibility, relevance and respect, which has led to improved global media protection ratings for Ghana.
The other members of the NMC and the institutions they represent are: Edmund Kofi Yeboah (General Secretary of GJA) and Kobby Asmah – Ghana Journalists Association, Hajj Muhammad Amir Kpakpo Addo – Federation of Muslim Councils and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission; Anthony Obeng Afrane – Ghana Association of Writers and the Ghana Library Association; Ernest Owusu Addo – Publishers and Owners of the Private Press; Prof Isaac Abeku Blankson – Training Institutions of Journalists and Communicators; Esther Numaba Cobbah – Ghana Advertisers Association and the Institute of Public Relations of Ghana, and Eva Okyere – Ghana Bar Association.
The rest are: Joseph Yao Hotor – Trades Union Congress; Abena Annobea Asare – National Council on Women and Development; Rev Isaac Owusu – Ghana National Association of Teachers; Rev Ruby Amable – Christian Groups (National Catholic Secretariat, Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal Council); Mahama Shaibu – Parliament of Ghana (Majority); Philip Fiifi Buckman – Parliament of Ghana (Majority), and Korkor Laurette Asante – Parliament of Ghana (Minority).
[SGD]
Gloria Hiadzi
Executive Secretary
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