They call him Okyeame, meaning linguist, but his legal name is Awuah Baffour Dennis. A native of Agona-Akrofonso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Okyeame dreams of starting his own Christian newspaper someday.

Born May 10, 1987, Okyeame lives at home with three younger sisters and mother, Madam Angelina Marfo. His father, Baffour Awuah, died two years ago. His mother, a trader at Mankranso in the Ashanti Region, sells bread by the roadside to support the family.

Like any other young man, Okyeame likes watching television and listening to music. His favorite food is a local dish, fufu, and soup. He also likes reading newspapers, doing research and writing. And he has a strong Christian faith. 

“Someone will ask why Christian newspaper?” said Okyeame. “Coming out with a newspaper of such nature will not only educate peoples but will serve as a guide to know God and bring Christianity to the lay man who knows nothing about our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Okyeame feels publishing a Christian newspaper “will provide encouragement, spiritual support and practical help to individuals by way of patronizing and reading the publication.”

Although only 20 years old, Okyeame has had the dream of becoming a journalist since he was 10 years old. He was recognized at Victory International at Mankranso for his essay writing competitions organized by the Ghana Education Service in the district levels. He had his Primary and Junior Secondary School at Mankranso and sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organized by the West African Examination Council. He passed with distinction.  After which, he was fortunate to be admitted at the S.D.A. Senior Secondary School in Agona in the Ashanti Region. He was also honored with the post as the School’s Entertainment Prefect in the 2004/05 academic year. Using this post to help improve the image of the school resulted in Okyeame being presented a certificate of appreciation and achievement.

He served as secretary for the I-Afrika Foundation (N.G.O.); a local non-governmental organization whose main aim is to care for orphans and school dropouts. It is located in Maakro in Kumasi.

Okyeame next experienced six months of intensive training in Broadcast Journalism at the Afrika Media Academy in Kumasi. It was there he had the opportunity to work with a local radio station, 101.1 Ashh FM as a reporter responsible for feeding the news department with “good and realistic news.”

He said, “I realized I had to change camp to the print media field so my dream and love for writing being into reality,” so he took a course with the Homestudy School of Journalism and Communication.

“I learnt a lot in newspaper reporting and sub editing,” he said.

After completing the Homestudy course, he had the opportunity to work at The Patriot Newspaper last year as a reporter, and later, went back to Ashh FM to work as an observer during last year’s general elections.

Life is not necessarily easy for residents of Mankranso where Okyeame makes his home. A town in Ghana, it is the capital of Ahafo Ano South District. He said the Angeryliko River, which flows through part of the Jipreyko tribe’s homeland,  serves as the main tourist attraction in the community.  Falling within the forest belt of Ghana, Mankranso also has produced many famous footballers such as Mohammed Kylinko and Geremi Rey-tenko.

Okyeame said most of the inhabitants of Mankranso are farmers; the type he referred to as “backyard farming,” so-called because “they only do it to keep their family.” Small plots, everything is done manually using tools such as machetes, hoes and axes.

“Almost 70 percent of the inhabitants are illiterate and schooling is not an easy task,” he said. “Mankranso Senior High School is the only Senior High School here.”

He said approximately 60 percent of the people are from the Asantes clan  and 40 percent are predominately mixed: Kotokoli, Grushie, Frafra and Housa.

“The majority of the people are kind and very friendly but,” he said, “the town is not all that beautiful when it’s night because all the street lights are not in a good mode and destroyed.”  With no street lights, the “town at night has being a great danger to inhabitants.”

Despite the hardships, Okyeame’s dream continues. He writes astonishing poetry and has mapped out exactly what he would like to see his newspaper produce. He visualizes a monthly magazine featuring first-person, true-life stories that offer practical solutions to everyday problems and inspiration for overcoming personal difficulties. He wants to feature progressive Christian commentary on faith, politics and culture and he sees his paper as a resource and connecting point for churches and church leaders, providing a place for open communication on issues of community, culture, faith and ministry.

Additionally he would like to offer articles on topics such as adoption, depression, homemaking, home schooling as well as humorous stories. Lastly, he would like the weekly news magazine to provide coverage of national and International news written from a Christian perspective.

Okyeame has the ideals and has set his goals, lacking only the financial means to bring his dream to fruition. “It will happen,” he said. “I know it will.”

He can be reached by emailing: awuahbaffourdennis@yahoo.com.

Poem by Okyeame Awuah

Follow Your Dream

Trouble arrives in measures, and we stack it up real high,
until we’re convinced, we have no reason to try.
If you feel defeated, you’re absolutely wrong,
for if you follow your dream, you could never lose for long.
Ignore the minor set-backs, that pile up and trouble you,
or you will build a mountain, out of the stones hurled at you.
The future holds great promise, your destiny unknown,
but God is always helping, and you’re never alone.
Soar bravely toward your goal. Let nothing darken the way.
You can change your tomorrow, if you seek your dream today.