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Salamatu Ahmed, Ghana’s only female Hausa sports broadcaster

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In a field long dominated by men, she has turned her microphone into a tool for change, amplifying women’s voices, promoting gender equality, and challenging deep-rooted stereotypes in sports journalism.

In Ghana’s media landscape, espe­cially in the arena of sports, Salamatu Ahmed stands out. Not just as the host of Iqra Radio’s popular morning show, but as the country’s only female Hausa sports broadcaster.

From humble beginnings in Lagos to an influential voice behind the micro­phone in Accra, her journey is one of boldness, resilience, and purpose.

Salamatu in Black Stars jersey

“I grew up in a close-knit neighbour­hood in Lagos where everyone looked out for each other,” she recalled in an interview with The Spectator on Monday. “There was no discrim­ination. I could enter any house, share a meal or even sleep over with­out rais­ing eye­brows. That spirit of unity shaped my values.”

Salamatu Ahmed

She said, her love for broadcasting was sparked by her father, who was an athlete and devoted news watcher. Her father loved sports and news and re­counted how she used to sit with him, watching the newscasters and wonder­ing how they memorised so much.

“I later found out they used a tele­prompter-what a relief!” she said with a laughter.

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Salamatu’s passion for football heightened during the France ‘98 World Cup. “I watched almost all the matches. That tournament made me fall completely in love with the game,” she said.

But it was not until years later that broadcasting became a real career path-and quite unexpectedly.

She recounted how a friend of hers was managing Hijra TV asked her if she knew anyone who could do Hausa sports for the TV station.

She grabbed the opportunity as she was not working at the time, saying “so I offered myself,” she explained. “That was how it all started.” From Hijra TV, she moved on to Baina TV and even­tually found her home at Iqra Radio.

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Though her original dream was to become an English-lan­guage sports anchor, Hausa unexpectedly became her break­through. “People always ask how I manage to do it in Hausa, and the fascinat­ing part is I am a woman doing it. That’s what truly sets it apart.”

But the journey has not been without hurdles. As a woman in sports media, she has had to fight for access and respect.

“It is always difficult getting interviews. Some male counterparts do not like sharing contacts or information,” she said.

Salamatu recounted how early on, men would ask for sexual favours in exchange for job opportunities. She said it got so discouraging that she left job-hunting for a while and ventured into business instead.

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Now firmly established in her field, she uses her platform not only to cover sports, but to push for systemic change. As a panelist on various forums and a vocal supporter of women’s football, Salamatu has advocated for increased investment, better pay, and more opportunities for female ath­letes.

Salamatu behind the microphone

“Why should male footballers be paid more for doing the same job?” she quizzed during the conversation. “Fe­male athletes often do not get bonuses or incentives that make life easier for them. People label us feminists for speaking out-but isn’t it just fairness?”

She also spoke passionately about how female athletes face scrutiny that goes beyond performance. “Look at Barbara Banda of Zambia; she faced criticism for being too ‘masculine.’ Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer, faced similar discrimination. It’s dishearten­ing. People forget these women are excelling at their craft.”

In 2024, Salamatu’s influence reached the global stage when she was selected to represent Ghana at the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. There, she joined other global leaders in conversations about empowering women in media, politics, and business.

“That experience showed me that our voices matter beyond our borders,” she said. “We are not just fighting for recognition here; we are part of a glob­al movement.”

Away from the microphone, Salamatu is known for her bubbly personality. “I am a fun-loving person-anything fun, count me in! I love cooking, watching movies, and reading.”

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She credits her background-a Muslim from a Zango family for instilling in her resilience and discipline.

After schooling in Lagos, she moved to Ghana and earned a diploma in Communication Studies from the Afri­can University College of Communica­tions (AUCC), now African University of Communication and Business (AUCB).

Her greatest pride is being the only female voice doing Hausa sports broad­casting in Ghana.

“Until someone else comes along, I will keep holding this fort,” she said with a smile. “It is my biggest achieve­ment so far.”

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For young girls looking up to her, she urged them never to be intimidated but rather carve a niche for themselves and be unique.

“You do not have to sound like or look like everyone else. Just be you and be excellent,” she added.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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Dierre Doors names King Promise as Brand Ambassador for Ghana campaign

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Italian premium security door manufacturer Dierre S.p.A. has named award-winning Ghanaian Afrobeats and Highlife artiste King Promise (Gregory Bortey Newman) as the face of its new Ghana and West Africa marketing campaign.

The partnership, managed by Regiments Management Company Limited, forms part of Dierre’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the West African market.

The two-week campaign, themed “Secure What Matters,” will run across digital, outdoor and influencer platforms, with King Promise featuring in a campaign film showcasing Dierre’s Prestige and Synergy security door ranges.

“Home is everything. It is where you protect the people and things that matter most. Dierre builds doors that reflect exactly that security, quality and style without compromise. I am proud to represent a brand that stands for those values,” King Promise said.

Founded in Italy, Dierre is a global manufacturer of armoured security doors, interior doors and fire-protection systems. Its products carry international anti-burglary certifications across Classes 3, 4 and 5, with the company producing hundreds of thousands of doors, locks and safes annually.

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King Promise is one of Ghana’s leading Afrobeats and Highlife artistes, known for his distinctive sound, international collaborations and growing global audience.

The partnership combines Dierre’s security and design expertise with King Promise’s influence in contemporary African music and culture, as the brand expands its consumer engagement in Ghana and across West Africa.

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From a room to a global enterprise: The Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye story

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• Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye
• Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye

From humble beginnings to building an enterprise with global ambitions, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s journey is a story of discipline, independence, resilience and the belief that businesses should be built to outlive their founders.

Long before he became the Group Chairman of M&C Group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye was building from modest beginnings.

Mr Vanderpuye recieves a citation at the 100 Most Notable African Leadership Excellence Awards

His entrepreneurial journey did not start in a sophisticated corporate office or with a large team behind him.

At one stage, he was working from his room with limited resources, focused on turning an idea into a viable business.

That beginning became an important part of his philosophy: build the business first, then let the infrastructure grow with it.

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Michael Bartlett-Vanderpuye

Michael’s early experiences shaped his determination to become an entrepreneur. After university and periods of professional employment, including banking, accounting, marketing, packaging and logistics, he developed a deeper understanding of how businesses operate and how different industries connect.

 His exposure to mining advisory work, property and other commercial opportunities broadened his perspective and helped him identify opportunities beyond a single sector.

But the journey was far from easy.

He recalls the uncertainty of sending proposal after proposal without knowing which one would eventually open a door.

Even after establishing an office in East Legon, some people assumed he was working for someone else because they could not imagine that the business belonged to him.

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The confidence and corporate presence associated with success today were built through years of uncertainty, rejection, experimentation and persistence.

His evolution from working out of a room to leading M&C Group reflects a broader philosophy that has guided his business life: do not build an image before you build the substance.

For Michael, entrepreneurship is not simply about owning a company. It is about learning how to turn knowledge, relationships, opportunities and resources into sustainable value.

He believes professionals in every field can develop an entrepreneurial mindset by creating assets, building networks, investing in opportunities and developing additional sources of value alongside their careers.

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That philosophy has influenced the way he approaches business expansion. Rather than viewing companies as isolated entities, Michael sees opportunities to create connections between industries, people and services.

Strategic partnerships, in his view, can create greater value than treating every other business as a competitor.

His approach has also been shaped by research and international exposure. He argues that entrepreneurs must understand the markets they enter rather than simply copy businesses they see succeeding elsewhere.

Behind every successful enterprise, he believes, are structures, regulations, relationships, research and decisions that may not be immediately visible from the outside.

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As his business interests have grown, so has his ambition. M&C Group represents a significant chapter in that evolution, reflecting his drive to build an enterprise that extends beyond a single venture.

His vision is rooted not merely in personal wealth, but in creating businesses capable of generating employment, developing people, building partnerships and contributing to the wider economy.

Michael is particularly concerned about the role of the private sector in addressing unemployment and creating sustainable opportunities. For him, a successful business should ultimately do more than enrich its owner. It should employ people, develop skills, support suppliers and create opportunities that extend beyond the founder.

That long-term perspective is central to his understanding of success.

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He is cautious about equating visibility with achievement. In an age where social media can make a business appear larger than it is, Michael believes the real measure of an enterprise lies in its systems, customers, assets, operations and results. The brand should be supported by substance.

His personal journey has therefore become a lesson in patience and discipline. The man who once had to convince people that the business was actually his now speaks about building systems, protecting capital, understanding markets and thinking beyond the immediate reward.

And his ambitions do not stop with the present generation.

Michael describes legacy as something that should extend beyond his children to future generations. His objective is to build something sustainable-something that can continue creating value after he is no longer at the centre of it.

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From a modest room and limited resources to the boardroom and the development of a growing business group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s story is ultimately about building before displaying, learning before expanding and creating something designed to last.

His journey is a reminder that global ambition does not necessarily begin with global resources. Sometimes, it begins with little more than an idea, discipline, persistence and the willingness to start where you are. – MyStoryMagazine

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