The late Godwin Avenorgbo
Because journalism is such a competitive business, it is not often that one comes across journalists who genuinely like one another.
Even where admiration among colleagues happens to exist, jealousy is usually an obstacle to the full expression of appreciation for the work of fellow journalists.
The late Godwin Avernogbo, who passed in Accra on August 19, 2024, at the age of 78, was one of the few exceptions. Since his death, almost every journalist who has spoken of him has many journalists heaped praises on him. Many were particularly impressed with the way he fought hard to achieve excellence in his work.
I didn't know him well, personally, having only come across him in mid-2024, when, as chair of the Planning Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association in charge of the activities marking the 75th anniversary of the GJA, he led members of the Committee to come and see me to invite me to take part in one of the planned events.
That one meeting produced so much inter-personal warmth that when I was asked to do so (with immense charm) I travelled to Ho to take part in a symposium, though I wasn't in the best of health.
It was thus a great blow to me when I heard, a few weeks later, that Godwin had passed.
What? He had shown no sign of ill health during the visit to me; in fact, he had been on very good form, regaling us with anecdotes from his variegated career, including a stint at the BBC in London. I thus wondered what could have taken him away so soon after our meeting. I join my journalistic colleagues in conveying my sorrowful condolences to his family.
I have learned, mainly from that indefatigable member of the Committee, Peter Agbeko, that because of his vast experience as both a working journalist and a Public Relations expert, Godwin had made himself a mentor to many of the practitioners of both professions.
Everyone who has spoken to me about Godwin emphasised his meticulous use of language and his dexterity, in organising public events.
Conducting oneself in public can be quite tricky, as the unexpected can happen at any time, and if one is not quick-witted, both hosts and guests might experience some embarrassment. But Godwin was apparently so adept at handling all manner of situations that he got to be widely fondly known as “The Grandmaster” of Big events!
As an MC, he tactfully prevented boredom by making wisecracks but not overdoing it. Some of those who had seen him “perform” regularly say that he had often win audiences over with his gregarious nature e, which, added to his skill and expertise, cast him as a mentor to younger members of the PR profession, especially.
The president of the GJA, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, and the general secretary, Mr. Kofi Yeboah (who, incidentally, worked with Godwin at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation), have paid warm tributes to Godwin and acknowledged his readiness to assist the organisation whenever he was called upon to do so.
In his tribute, Mr. Yeboah wrote: “I don’t know how he got the accolade ‘The Grandmaster’ but having studied him closely as my boss and senior colleague, I don’t need a sound-bite of that story because -- Godwin was professional to a fault.”
Mr. Yeboah went on: “During his tenure as Director of Radio [at the GBC], I received a number of commendation letters for hard work and professional excellence, and although those letters were not legal tender for the payment of goods, they paid off well [to help me] in my pursuit of excellence”.
Godwin would have been thrilled to hear that he was such an inspiration to a young member of his profession, who worked with him for only a short time.
May he rest in perfect peace.
