Ghanaian TV presenter and journalist Paa Kwesi has won the 2023 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.

The 36-year-old is the eighth recipient of the award and the first to come from Ghana, like the late Komla Dumor.

Asare is currently the head of business news at Ghana’s private TV3 channel, where he has worked for seven years as one of its main news anchors.

The award was created to honor Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly aged 41 in 2014.

Asare, who will spend three months working with BBC News teams in London across TV, radio, and online and will also receive training and be mentored by leading BBC journalists.

On Monday, August 21, 2023, Paa Kwesi Asare’s appearance at work was full of congratulations for his win by the Board and Management of Media General.

They welcomed him with lots of love and joy in their hearts for winning such a prestigious award around the globe, therefore making Ghana one of the recognized countries when it comes to journalism in Africa.

Paa Kwesi Asare was given the platform to express how he felt about the win of the prestigious award.

He expressed and showed so much gratitude to God for making him the first winner of the prestigious BBC award, even though, it will leave an enormous responsibility on him since he is the first Ghanaian to win this award.

He explained how the journey had been and recalled that in 2015 he was a runner-up in the inaugural edition of the award and decided to take another chance eight years down the line which he turned out to be the winner of the prestigious BBC Award.

The journalist encouraged his colleagues that once they put their minds on something, they have to believe that they can compete at the highest level and also have to believe in themselves that they can rub shoulders with the very best across the continent.

He concluded by thanking them for coming out in their numbers to cheer him up.

He said:

“I thank all of you for coming out in your numbers to cheer me up. God bless all of you and more wins for us. Thank you”.
Paa Kwesi Asare

Paa Kwesi Asare says he feels very elated to have won BBC Komla Dumor Award

The award is presented each year to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills, on-air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.

The winner is given a three-month training and development contract by BBC News.

Previous winners include Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya (Zambia), Victoria Rubadiri (Kenya), Solomon Serwanjja (Uganda), Waihiga Mwaura (Kenya), Amina Yuguda (Nigeria), Didi Akinyelure (Nigeria) and Nancy Kacungira (Uganda).

Last year, Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya traveled to Seychelles to report on how the country’s ocean plants can help tackle climate change.

Paa Kwesi Asare had worked tirelessly to bring a more nuanced African narrative to the world, representing a confident, savvy, and entrepreneurial side of Africa.

The judges were impressed by his strong journalism and his ability to explain complex topics compellingly and clearly.

As part of the placement, he will travel to a country in Africa to report on a story that will be broadcast to the BBC’s global audiences.

Asare said:

“I feel very elated to have won the BBC News Komla Dumor Award. This is arguably the most prestigious award for any African journalist. Komla’s talent is one that I greatly admired and to be found worthy of walking in his shoes is not only a joy but also a great privilege. This award gives me the motivation to continue striving for excellence in my career, and I am excited to use this platform to amplify African voices and tell the stories that matter to our continent”.
Paa Kwesi Asare