Early Life
(DISCOVERED NOTES WRITTEN BY CYRIL HIMSELF)
It was a warm and calm Sunday. The sun was steadily reaching its zenith overhead when the shrill cry of a baby boy was heard at Whitaker House on Horse Road, now Asafo Nettey Road in Accra. That cry announced the birth of the journalist we all knew as Cyril Acolatse on 31st May 1942. His father was Mr. John Hieronymus Acolatse, son of Togbui Joachim Acolatse, II, Dufia of Kedzi in the Keta District of the Volta Region.
His mother, Madam Emma Lankai Thompson, who traded in textiles hailed from Sempe in Accra. Cyril’s early journey as a Christian began on the 6th of August 1942 with baptism by the late Rev. Fr. Joseph Ayitey Quartey-Papafio Okwabi at St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church also on the Horse Road. Cyril was the second of his parents’ three children, namely his senior sister, Mavis Emefa and Junior brother Lawrence Tsatsu who passed way painfully in infancy.
(END OF CYRIL’S NOTES)
Mr. Cyril Acolatse, whose full name is Cyril Harry Kwasi Acolatse was a Ghanaian award winning broadcaster, journalism trainer and media consultant. With almost four (4) decades in active service at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Cyril distinguished himself as an excellent interviewer and host of several programmes on television in the 80’s and 90’s through his professionalism in the media to the admiration of many. He was a writer, program host, interviewer and moderator.
Cyril’s early school days were spent at the Evangelical Presbyterian Schools at Keta in the Volta Region from 1949 to 1958. He then had his secondary school education at the St. John’s Grammar Secondary School in Accra from 1958 to 1963. Mr. Acolatse acquired a Diploma in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Accra, from 1953 to 1956.
Work Life
Cyril joined the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on the 29th of October, 1965 as a reporter at the external service of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as Radio Ghana whose pivotal mandate was the promotion of the liberation struggle in Africa and elsewhere. Following the overthrow of the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s government in 1966, the external service lost its revolutionary verve and consequently, Mr. Acolatse who was on duty night of the Coup D’etat, became part of the national radio newsroom department as an Assistant Editor in 1967.
His diligent application of professional values to assignments propelled him through the ranks. He became Senior Editor in 1979, Assistant Chief Editor in 1982, Senior Editor in Western Region in 1979, Editor at Western Region in 1978, Chief Editor in 1988, Editor in Chief in 1995, Head of Current Affairs in 1998, Acting Assistant Director of Radio in 2001 and Assistant Director of Radio in January 2002, prior to his retirement at GBC in May 2002.
He moderated several programmes including “The Media and The Law” (seminar) organized by the National Media Commission and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in (2001), a World Bank Sponsored workshop on “Issues in Education In Ghana: What Makes News in Education and What Does Not”seminar) Organized by Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) & Communication for Education and Development (COMED) (2003) and the World Bank and Economic Writer’s Institute seminar on “Africa’s Development in the 90’s”.
He distinguished himself as an interviewer or a host of several radio and television programs. Among the programs he hosted on television were FOCUS, TALKING POINT, TOPIC, OUR CONCERN, SEARCHLIGHT, PUBLIC CONCERN. On GBC radio he hosted RADIO SEARCHLIGHT, INSIGHT and FOCUS.
Some selected Distinguished Personalities Interviewed by Cyril include;
– FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL – MR. BOUTROS BOUTROS GHALI
– FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL – MR. KOFI ANNAN
– FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT – MR. NELSON MANDELA
– ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT – MR ROBERT MUGABE
– PRESIDENT OF GHANA (AS NPP FLAGBEARER, 2008) – NANA AKUFO ADDO
– FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA – DR. HILLA LIMANN
– AS NPP FLAGBEARER (FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA) – MR. J. A. KUFFOUR
– FORMER SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT (GHANA) – MR. PETER ALA ADJETEY
– AS CABINET MINISTER (P.P.P FALGBEARER) – DR. PAPA KWESI NDUOM
– AS PRELATE OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (GHANA) – PETER CARDINAL APPIAH TURKSON
– OVERSEER OF THE ACTION CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL – ARCHBISHOP DUNCAN WILLIAMS
– OVERSEER OF INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH – DR. MENSA OTABIL
The GJA
Mr. Acolatse served as the Western Region Secretary of GJA from 1978 to 1980. He became National Executive Member and Chairman of GJC International Relations Committee in 1988. In May 1989, he represented GJA at the inauguration of the Federation of East African Journalists Association FEAJA in Kampala, Uganda and delivered a paper on “New Challenges of African Liberation and Unity and the Role of African Journalists” at a forum to mark OAU Africa Liberation Day.
He served as Vice President of the GJA from 1990 to 1992. In December 1992 he unsuccessfully contested the GJA presidential elections. He was Chairman of 1995 GJA Awards Committee. He was among “Six Eminent Persons” who served on the GJA committee that in 2008 reviewed the Association’s Guidelines on Election Coverage.
The Media Commission
He was the GJA Representative on the National Media Commission and member of the Commission’s Media and Complaints Settlement Committees from October 1997 to October 2000. He was re-nominated to serve a second term from 17th October 2000 to 17th October 2003.
He was made Chairman of the Commission’s Media Committee and member of its Complaints Settlement Committee. He was member of a committee of experts that formulated the Commission’s “Broadcasting Standards“ for the electronic media in Ghana. He was member secretary of the two-man delegation on a familiarization visit to media institutions in Paris at the invitation of the French government from April 21 to 29, 2001.
International Career
A major turning point in the career of Mr. Acolatse was his posting to Sekondi as the Western Region Radio and Television Correspondent of GBC in 1979 which led to his secondment to Africa English Service Department of Radio Deutsche Welle that is, Voice of Germany, in Cologne, in the Federal Republic of Germany, in March, 1982.
While on Secondment, he edited and presented the African News, conducted interviews, prepared and presented write ups on African and International Affairs and was a regular panellist of discussion program “INTERNATIONAL TALKING POINT”.
He also introduced and presented a monthly feature on German cities, towns and tourist attractions in programs called “SATURDAY SPECIAL” and “OUT-AND-ABOUT IN GERMANY”.
War Correspondent
From August 19 to September 3, 1990, Mr. Acolatse as GBC Radio News Correspondent was attached to the first ECOMOG Force in Sierra Leone and Liberia as a War Correspondent reporting on the civil that plagued Liberia and left many dead.
On his return, Mr. Acolatse delivered a paper on “DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS” based on personal experience with ECOMOG Forces in Freetown, Sierra Leone and Monrovia, Liberia at the First Anglophone West African Regional Workshop on “Strengthening of Press freedom” organized by the United States Information Service in Accra in June 1992.
Media Trainer
Mr. Acolatse lectured in “Interviewing Skills” at GBC Radio Training School from 1985 – 2015. Cyril partnered with the then Director General of GBC, Major (Rtd) Albert Don-Chebe, to run a one-day workshop for officers of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College at GBC delivering a paper on “Interviewing techniques for Dealing with the Media”in 2013/2014.
In October and November 2016, he run a 7- Day workshop for selected journalists of GN Media to sharpen their professional ethics and skills. He also taught “Interviewing Skills” at the Radio Broadcast Development Foundation Academy (RABODEF) and in 2001 lectured in Interviewing Techniques at the African Institute of Journalism & Communications, AITC
Media Consultancy as a Veteran Journalist
He retired from active service on 31st May, 2002. After his retirement Mr. Acolatse continued to work with other media organizations including being a Board member of Groupe Nduom Media from 2017 to 2019.
Prior to that, he was host of “Question Time” on Obonu FM and from 2004 to 2005. He served as Head of News and Current Affairs at Metro TV. While at Metro TV, he designed and hosted its first electioneering programmes dubbed “CAMPAIGN 2004: FACING THE ISSUES” and “STOP PRESS”. Mr. Acolatse also was the moderator of the Presidential Debate organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra in connection with the 2008 General Elections.
Honours and Awards
He was named “Outstanding Interviewer Award sponsored by the Ministry of Information in 1989/1990. The interactive discussion program he hosted on television “Public Concern” won him the Ghana Journalists Association GJA National Award for “Best Talk Show” in 1997.
As a retired broadcaster, the GJA in 2013 honoured him for his contribution to Journalism in Ghana and in 2019 honoured him posthumously at its 70th anniversary edition of the Awards ceremony for being a pioneer in the fight for Press Freedom in Ghana.
Religious Life
Cyril originally baptised an Anglican later converted to become a Roman Catholic and made a profession of faith before Rev. Fr. John Coady, an S.V.D. American Missionary at the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church on 23rd December 1972 and received his first holy communion on 24th December 1972.
He was confirmed at the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church on 25th February 1973 by Right Rev. David Andoh now Archbishop (retired). Cyril held onto the values and principles of a life of the Christian faith all his life till the very end.
Family
Cyril was married to Mrs. Apollonia Byll Acolatse and had 5 Children; Belinda Acolatse, Mary-Ann Eyram Acolatse Bashan, Carl Acolatse, Selikem Acolatse-Apaloo and Louisa Elom Otchere. Cyril died on 28th October 2019 at the Tema General Hospital.
Hobbies
Mr. Acolatse’s hobbies included writing and reading poems, listening to classical and traditional music, watching sports and the performing arts, drawing, painting and reading of religious literature.
Extracts from Testimonials to Cyril Acolatse
1. Evangelical Presbytarian Middle Boys School – Keta, 28th April, 1958
“At School, Cyril was obedient, gentle and submissive. He was of good conduct”.
2. Mr. S. O. Tay, English & English Literature Master, St. John’s Grammar School, Accra – 18th July, 1963
“I find him as a character very resourceful, hardworking and painstaking person. He is at the same time, unassuming but bold enough to speak his mind. I believe him to be perfectly honest and of absolute integrity and that he can be relied upon to render efficient, conscientious service. His personality and his manners are pleasant”.
3. Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Letter of Commendation signed by Director of Administration, Mr. S. K. Sosu – 16th December, 1996
“On behalf of management and entire staff, I commend you highly on your dedication to duty and the efficient and diligent manner of handling the 1996 election results. By your exemplary dedication and expertise, GBC has gained in stature.”
4. A Citation By GBC Radio Training School – 2002
“You were selected among your peers to teach interviewing, not because of the many years in the field of broadcasting but because of your diligence, hard work, tactfulness, discipline, commitment and forthrightness. Your selflessness and the earnest desire to ensure that your students succeed in their careers have exemplified your sterling qualities. Your willingness to take on any teaching assignment within the shortest notice is highly commendable. By your consistent sense of discipline and decorum, you have become a strong pillar of influence on many budding broadcasters. ”
5. Ghana Journalist Association Citation of Honorary Award For Meritorious Service to the Association and Contribution to the Development of Journalism in Ghana – 2nd November , 2013
“You were once Vice President of the GJA and served the Association in Diverse ways. You were among “Six Eminent Persons” who served on the GJA Committee that in 2008 reviewed the Association’s Guidelines on Election Coverage.
You have as a veteran journalist not remained only passionate about professionalism on the airwaves; you have , through thick and thin continued to engage directly in the development of the broadcast media in Ghana.”
6. Deutsche Welle (Radio Voice of Germany) Cologne – 1st August 1985
“He made a particular success of his programme series on German towns and cities which he introduced to an African audience through reports and interviews. Mr. Acolatse was very hardworking and conscientious and always gave top priority to journalistic standards in the production of his features. Among his many talents, we would want to particularly mention his love for art which became known to a wider audience through an art exhibition in Deutsche Welle. We will miss Mr. Acolatse as a fair and competent colleague”.
