Asempa FM’s Philip Osei Bonsu ‘O.B.’ named 2026 GJA Journalist of the Year

Asempa FM’s Philip Osei Bonsu, widely known as O.B., has been named the 2026 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Journalist of the Year, earning the Association’s highest individual honour at the 30th GJA Media Awards held in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

The award recognises his outstanding contribution to journalism in Ghana during the qualifying period, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most influential broadcasters and public affairs commentators .

O.B. hosts Ekosiisen, Asempa FM’s flagship late-afternoon current affairs programme, which has become a staple of Ghanaian political discourse. He also serves as Programmes Manager at the Multimedia Group Limited subsidiary . The programme itself was also honoured on the night, winning the Best Radio Programme of the Year (Ghanaian Language) award, a testament to the team’s collective effort in Twi-language broadcasting and public discourse .

Beyond his broadcasting career, O.B. is a qualified lawyer, called to the Ghana Bar in October 2024 after completing his professional training at the Ghana School of Law . His academic credentials include a First Class Honours degree in Linguistics and Theatre Arts from the University of Ghana, an MSc in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs with Distinction from Robert Gordon University in Scotland, and an LLB from Central University . He is also a Tullow Scholar and a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow at the University of San Diego .

Earlier in January 2026, O.B. was named among the personalities featured in Avance Media’s inaugural Top 100 Ghanaians Powerlist 2025, recognised in the media category for his work as host of Ekosiisen . Reacting to that recognition, he credited his production team for the programme’s success.

“This recognition truly reflects the hard work and sense of professionalism of my incredible team on EKOSIISEN. It also reflects the sense of duty and dedication to my chosen professions: Broadcast Journalism and Law,” he stated .

The 30th GJA Media Awards were held under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age” . The ceremony, held at the Palms Convention Centre of the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, brought together journalists, media organisations and other stakeholders to recognise achievements in the media industry .

Other notable winners on the night included GBC’s Esther Aidoo, who won the Bank of Ghana Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year award; Doreen Ampofo, named Best in Radio Documentaries; and Prince Kukorku, who took Best Photojournalist of the Year . Media General secured three awards, with Godwin Asediba winning Best Television Documentary for Hooked on Red, Stanley Nii Blewu named Best in Education Reporting, and Christian Yalley taking the Road Safety award . UniMAC-IJ’s Jennifer Frimpong-Wiredu was named Best Student Journalist of the Year for her documentary exploring the origins of the word ‘trotro’ .

O.B.’s journey to the pinnacle of Ghanaian journalism has been marked by versatility and a commitment to public service. Before joining Asempa FM in 2018 to host Ekosiisen, he served as Head of Public Relations for the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Western Region and was a celebrated talk show host at Skyy Power FM in Takoradi . His transition from corporate communications to full-time broadcasting, and subsequently to the legal profession, reflects a career defined by continuous learning and a dedication to public discourse.

The Journalist of the Year award is the highest individual recognition presented by the GJA and honours outstanding contributions to journalism during the qualifying period. For O.B., the honour represents not only personal achievement but also the collective effort of a production team that has helped shape one of Ghana’s most listened-to current affairs programmes.