Episode 12:
Hon. Kojo Yankah
The Honorable Kojo Yankah has had a career that spans the world of journalism, government, and education. His work as an editor at Ghana’s most widely circulated newspaper, the Daily Graphic, led to his appointment as the Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism. In the 1992 Ghanaian parliamentary election, he won the seat for Agona East Constituency, and during the second term of the Rawlings government, he acted as Central Regional Minister, Ashanti Regional Minister, and Minister of State. In 2001, he established the African University College of Communications, and most recently, he founded the Pan African Heritage Museum, which is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art repository dedicated to showcasing the history, culture, and achievements of the Pan African World as presented by Africans. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of this project.
We talk about:
Growing up in Ghana in the 1960s as part of the young pioneer movement, the desire to study Ghanaian history, not just colonial work, and how this movement was banned.
His early career in teaching, his move into journalism, working as a radio and television broadcaster, and eventually becoming editor of Ghana’s largest newspaper the Daily Graphic.
Tying together teaching and journalism at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Working with Jerry Rawlings, Ghana’s first President, as part of his government, and the history leading up to Rawling’s leadership.
Pan-Africanism and why it’s so important, thoughts on a united Africa.
His latest project, The Pan-African Heritage Museum, why it’s important for Africans to tell our own history. How both digital and physical sites are important to provide access and connection.
“In terms of Pan-Africanism…I’m looking at a united family of people of African descent…knowing about themselves…let’s create a site where we can all go to see ourselves….Africa’s story does not start with slavery – it’s an insult to our dignity.” – Hon. Kojo Yankah
Keywords: museum, digital museum, pan-African, Pan African Heritage Museum, culture, Ghana, journalism, politics.
