Ace Ghanaian broadcaster, David Amanor has bid farewell to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after more than 20 years of journalism at the corporation.
After years of delighting audiences on the airwaves as a presenter and correspondent in Ghana, Focus on Africa’s David Amanor is leaving the BBC.
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Mr Amanor, in an interview with Nigerian-born broadcaster at the BBC Bola Mosuro, said the greatest experience in his journalism career was when he spent five years reporting on major events in Ghana.
I did spend just about five years reporting from Ghana and there were big events.”
African Cup of Nations which was held in Ghana in 2008, the December 7 general elections, as well as Barack Obama making history as the first black American president, as well as having the honours of celebrating the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s 10th anniversary were a few highlights in his journalism career.
“The election that year was an extraordinary one. We went to three rounds unprecedented. There was also the coming of Obama the next year and there was the Asantehene’s 10th anniversary,” Mr Amanor said.
The BBC Focus on Africa reporter said the greatest experience in his broadcasting and reporting career was telling the stories of ordinary people.
“The greatest pleasure in reporting from the ground was talking to people like the taxi drivers in Sakumono and market women in Makola…and all just kinds of ordinary people just talking, just letting them lead the story. For me, that was the greatest experience.”
To David Amanor, being the voice of the voiceless to be heard was what he was good at. In his over 20 years of reporting, he has not been succesful in interviewing the “big people” such as the presidents and First Ladies.
Some people are good at different things. When we all work together it is because every member brings so much to the church, don’t they? They just bring their own kind of abilities. So, for example, our sister Veronica [Edwards] is very good at getting presidents and First Ladies and she can bring it down to our level. I couldn’t do that. I’m the kind of journalist who was not trying to chase big people I’ve never been successful at that. But I’ve always have found the more ordinary people whose voice is not heard.”
Sharing why he always loves interviewing ordinary people, Mr Amanor said people in Ghana and Africa in general are approachable and easy to talk to.
“In a place like Ghana and much of Africa, people have been so receptive to the BBC over the years. So yeah, I think I prefer those kinds of interviews.
He added that the story of ordinary people are very inspiring, and he learns a lot about life and culture when they share their story with him.
Because I can come to them with a blank sheet. So you tell me your story, and listen and say where this is going and very often Bola, as you know you get so much surprised. You get nice surprises along the way that tell you about life and culture.”
David Amanor joined the BBC World Service in 1998 as producer and presenter.
He plays the guitar and formed his first band in England. His first experience of the BBC was a visit to a studio with his punky-reggae band.