Our Founder
Joseph Opoku Gakpo is an award winning journalist who specializes in Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development reporting.
He currently works with the Multimedia Group Limited (Joy FM, Joy News TV and www.myjoyonline.com) where he serves on the Environment and Technology Desk in the Joy News room, and also works as parliamentary correspondent.
He is also host of weekly radio show ‘Sunday Edition’ on which colleague journalists tell back stories of how they covered the major issues that came up in the cause of the week.
Joseph has produced about 50 audio-visual documentaries and about 1,000 short audio-visual short features for media broadcast; conducted more than 10,000 radio and television interviews; and published about 1,500 articles online and in print media.
Professional Experiences
Joseph is a communications professional with about a decade’s experience working as a journalist; producing documentaries and other content for radio, television and online platforms. He also has extensive experience in communications consultancy for corporate organisations and individuals; designing communications plans and shepherding their implementation. He additionally undertakes training for individuals seeking to build their capacity to effectively engage the media and has proven track record in speech, opinion piece and proposal writing.
He has trained more than 1000 people personally in areas of communication, advocacy and agribusiness, and provided communications consultancy services to at least 10 firms and individuals in the course of his career.
Childhood
Joseph had a difficult childhood. His parents died when he was six years and it took the support of family and friends to be able to go through education. He had to sell kerosene and water at the Aflao market, fish, soup and kenkey at Amakom in Kumasi and worked as micro finance and insurance agent to get through school. These experiences are what have inspired his decision to set up this foundation.
Educational Background
Joseph holds a Global Leadership Course Certificate from Cornell University, Ithaca-New York State, USA pursued between August and November 2016. He also holds a Masters of Arts in Communication Studies from University of Ghana pursued between August 2014 and November 2015. Prior to that, Joseph pursued a Bsc in Agric. Biotechnology from KNUST, Kumasi pursued between August 2009 and June 2013.
Awards
Joseph has travelled extensively and produced stories in about 20 countries across the world including USA, Nigeria, and South Africa. He’s also won about 10 local and international awards in the course of his career including;
MTN Heroes of Change 2018
Special Award Category Winner at MTN Heroes of Change 2018 in Accra
OFAB Africa Media Awards 2017
First Runner Up in Radio Category at OFAB Africa Media Awards 2017 organised by African Agricultural Technology Foundation in Uganda
2016 Best Journalist
2016 Best Journalist in Sustainable Development Goals Reporting Award by Ghana Journalists Association in Accra
Star Prize Award
2018 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ Star Prize Award for Best Broadcast Video in Netherlands
Best Radio Report at OFAB Ghana Media Awards
Winner, Best Radio Report at OFAB Ghana Media Awards 2017 in Accra
2015 Best Journalist
2015 Best Journalist in Poverty Alleviation Reporting Award by Ghana Journalists Association in Accra
2018 ALLTECH/IFAJ
2018 ALLTECH/IFAJ Young Leader in Journalism Award by International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in Netherlands
2016 Global Leadership
Honour as 2016 Global Leadership Fellow by Cornell University’s Alliance for Science Programme in USA
2018 Best Journalist
2018 Best Journalist in Agriculture Reporting (Electronic category) by Ghana Journalists Association in Accra