David Ampofo
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David Ampofo (born 14 June 1961) is a
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
ian journalist, communications expert and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and Chief Executive of Channel Two Communications, an advocacy communications firm based in
Accra, Ghana Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
, and the host of ''Time with David'', Ghana's premier talkshow.


Early life and education

Ampofo was born at
Takoradi Sekondi-Takoradi is a city in Ghana comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. It is the capital of Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and the Western Region of Ghana. Sekondi-Takoradi is the region's largest city and an indus ...
in the Western Region of Ghana, where he lived with his parents, four brothers and three sisters. He attended the Takoradi International School along with his older brother, Thomas Edward Ampofo and older sister, Patricia Sloley. In 1972, on completion of his Common Entrance exam, he began his secondary school education at St. John's School, Sekondi run by the Brothers of the Holy Cross from the USA. In 1982, he won a Ghana Government scholarship to pursue his university education in
Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
at the elite political leadership school Escuela Nico Lopez. His decision to go to Cuba was influenced by
Jerry Rawlings Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 194712 November 2020) was a Ghanaian military officer and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the de ...
, with whom he had developed a close relationship. He graduated from there in 1986 with a first-class degree in Politics & Philosophy.


Career

Ampofo began his journalism career at the
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was established by law in 1968 with a triple mandate as a State Broadcaster, Public Service Broadcaster, and a Commercial Broadcaster in Ghana. Headquartered in the capital city, Accra, it is funded by gr ...
in 1986. In 1987 he was named Best Television Reporter. In 1988 he was named Journalist of the Year. Between 1987 and 1992, he was the host of ''Searchlight'', a prime-time news and current affairs programme, and had many remarkable interviews with several world leaders, including
Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...
,
Yasser Arafat Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini (4 / 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), popularly known as Yasser Arafat ( , ; ar, محمد ياسر عبد الرحمن عبد الرؤوف عرفات القدوة الحسيني, Mu ...
,
Kenneth Kaunda Kenneth David Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021), also known as KK, was a Zambian politician who served as the first President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Dissat ...
and
Sam Nujoma Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, (; born 12 May 1929) is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first ...
. He was a Presidential Correspondent and travelled extensively with Jerry Rawlings. He was a correspondent for
CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the M ...
's '' World Report'' and in 1990 the ''
Columbia Journalism Review The ''Columbia Journalism Review'' (''CJR'') is a biannual magazine for professional journalists that has been published by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism since 1961. Its contents include news and media industry trends, ana ...
'' did a piece on outstanding foreign correspondents in which Ampofo was named. That same year, he won the Flagship Britannia award (now Chevening awards) to pursue a master's degree in journalism at the
University of Wales The University of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ''Prifysgol Cymru'') is a confederal university based in Cardiff, Wales. Founded by royal charter in 1893 as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff ...
. On completion in 1991, he spent three months as an intern with The
CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 48 H ...
channel in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. He continued with attachments at leading public affairs firms
Hill and Knowlton Hill+Knowlton Strategies is an American global public relations consulting company, headquartered in New York City, United States, with over 80 offices in more than 40 countries. The company was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1927 by John W. Hill ...
and Walter Judds in the UK. He also interned with leading UK newspaper ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
''. In 1995 he was selected as Africa correspondent for
M-Net M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's award-winning actuality programme ''Carte Blanche'' - a position that put him at the cutting edge of major events across the continent and in contact with global movers and shakers. In 2020 he was appointed as new CEO of Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber.


Channel Two Communications

Ampofo left the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in 1992 and founded Channel Two Communications. He launched the television show ''Time with David'' in 1995 and has conducted over 500 television interviews. He is a filmmaker and has produced over 200 promotional documentaries and investigative reports. He has also served as Public Affairs Counsel for notable organizations and personalities including former CEO of
Ashanti Goldfields The Ashanti Goldfields Corporation is a gold mining company based in Ghana that was founded by Joseph Ellis and Joseph Biney both from Cape Coast. The Ashanti Mine, located at Obuasi, 56 km south of Kumasi, has been producing since 1897. Dur ...
,
Sam Jonah Samuel Esson Jonah (born 19 November 1949) is a Ghanaian businessman and the current chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. He is the executive chairman of Jonah Capital, an equity fund based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jonah was previou ...
and Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, a leading Ghanaian entrepreneur and Presidential candidate. The editorial pieces produced by Channel Two Communications are as follows:"About Channel Two Communications".
/ref> *''Time with David'' - talk show. Created in 1995, it is a series of interviews with politicians, influential businessmen and leading thinkers. Past guests include Ghanaian Vice President
John Dramani Mahama John Dramani Mahama (; born 29 November 1958) is a Ghanaian politician who served as President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017. He previously served as Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012, and took office as presi ...
and elder statesman K. B. Asante. *''Special Report'' - a series of documentaries aimed at providing insight into the social challenges that Ghanaians confront. *''Business Report'' - a series of documentaries that showcase the different challenges facing the business sector and provide insight into Ghana's business climate.


Family

Ampofo is one of eight siblings. His father, Thomas Edward Ampofo, worked with the Forestry Department and retired as the Chief Inspector of Timber. Ampofo is married to Sylvia Dadzie and they have five children. He was also formerly married to journalist and newscaster, Abena Konadu Agyeman (formerly Ampofo, née Agyeman).


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ampofo, David 1961 births Living people Chief executives in the media industry Alumni of the University of Wales Ghanaian television journalists