For Martha Crentsil-Acquah, a career in journalism was never just an ambition—it was a lifelong dream. Her inspiring journey through Ghana’s media industry is a testament to resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Fresh out of secondary school in the 1990s, Martha set her sights on gaining admission to the then Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), which represented the pinnacle of her aspirations. Despite writing the entrance examination three times, she was unable to secure admission. Rather than giving up on her educational pursuits, she enrolled at the Presbyterian Women’s Training College, drawing on her experience as a pupil teacher, a role she had held for nearly four years.

Fate, however, had other plans. Just before completing her first year at the training college, Martha received the news she had long hoped for—an admission offer to pursue a Diploma in Journalism at the then Africa Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC).

At AIJC, Martha quickly distinguished herself through hard work and academic excellence. During her two-year diploma programme, she gained valuable practical experience through internships at Target Saatchi & Saatchi in the Marketing and Advertising Department of TV Africa and later at Graphic Communications Group Limited. There, she had the privilege of working alongside respected media professionals including Albert Salia, Samuel Doe Ablordeppey, Rebecca Quaicoo Duho, and Mabel Aku Banesseh. Her first field assignment was covered under the guidance of seasoned journalist Charles Benoni Okine.

Her dedication to excellence paid off when she graduated as the Best English Student at the Diploma level.

Following graduation, Martha undertook her national service with the Electoral Commission of Ghana at New Abirem in the Eastern Region. Upon completing her service, she ventured into newspaper journalism, joining The Defender newspaper in Dome around 2006. Her entrepreneurial spirit soon led her to establish a new publication, The Invader, where she served as Managing Editor. Although the newspaper operated for only six months due to financial challenges, the experience further strengthened her leadership and management skills.

In early 2008, Martha’s career took a significant turn when she joined Metro TV as a News Producer. Working under Mary Ann Eyram Acolatse, then Head of News, she quickly became an integral part of the newsroom. Beyond her production responsibilities, she closely followed and reported on the high-profile Tsatsu Tsikata trial at the High Court until its conclusion.

Her competence and leadership abilities saw her rise through the ranks—from News Producer to Assignments Editor and eventually Acting Editor following the resignation of Eyram Acolatse. While building her career at Metro TV, Martha remained committed to academic advancement. In 2009, she returned to school to pursue a bachelor’s degree, successfully graduating in 2012.

In August 2012, Martha joined Multimedia Group Limited as Assignments Editor and TV News Producer. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in producing some of the network’s flagship news programmes. She served as the lead producer for News Today, the foremost Midday News on Ghana’s foremost 24-hour news channel, anchored by Gifty Keminni Amanor, as well as JoyNews Prime, the station’s premier evening news programme hosted by Israel Laryea and Gifty Andoh Appiah.

Her exceptional performance earned her promotion to Multimedia News Editor, a role that saw her overseeing editorial operations across Multimedia’s English-language platforms.

In May 2020, Martha was reassigned from the Joy Brands to Multimedia’s Akan brands—Adom FM, Adom TV and Asempa FM—as TV News Editor. Working under A.C. Ohene, then Head of News and Current Affairs, she continued to demonstrate strategic leadership, editorial excellence and a deep understanding of audience-focused journalism.

Her years of dedication, professionalism and impactful leadership culminated in a major career milestone in 2024 when she was appointed Head of News and Current Affairs for the Adom Brands.

Today, Martha Crentsil-Acquah stands among the few women who have successfully risen to the highest levels of newsroom leadership in Ghana’s media industry. In a profession where top editorial and management positions have traditionally been dominated by men, she has distinguished herself through resilience, competence, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

From the disappointment of repeated unsuccessful attempts to gain admission to journalism school to leading one of Ghana’s most influential news operations, Martha’s journey is a powerful testament to perseverance and determination. Her rise through the ranks—from reporter and producer to editor and ultimately Head of News and Current Affairs—has not only broken barriers but has also paved the way for more women to aspire to leadership roles within the media landscape.

Her story is one of courage, passion, and hard work, demonstrating that with dedication and vision, obstacles can be transformed into opportunities and dreams into remarkable achievements.