Profile of the late Komla Dumor

Komla Afeke Dumor (3 October 1972 — 18 January 2014) was a Ghanaian journalist who was born in Accra, Ghana. His grandfather was Philip Gbeho, composer of the Ghanaian national anthem. As of June 2012, Dumor was the main presenter of the BBC World News programme Focus on Africa.

Dumor joined the BBC African Service in 2006 as host of the radio programme Network Africa. From 2008 to 2012 he presented The World Today on the BBC World Service.


In 2011, Dumor began presenting the World News and Africa Business Report on BBC World News television. When the latter was relaunched in 2013; fellow BBC correspondent, Lerato Mbele was chosen as host.


Prior to joining the BBC he worked for Joy FM in Accra, Ghana, and was the 2003 winner of Journalist of the Year award given by the Ghana Journalist Association. Dumor was the only West African newsreader on BBC World News.

Initially, Dumor studied medicine but he changed course and graduated from the University of Ghana with a BSc in Sociology and Psychology and from Harvard University with an MA in Public Administration. He is married to Kwansema, with whom he has three children.


He died suddenly on 18 January 2014, in London. His death was from cardiac arrest.