GHANAIAN SCHOLAR NANA KWAME OSEI FORDJOUR MAKES HISTORY, WINS INAUGURAL US EARLY CAREER AWARD

A Ghanaian academic based in the United States, Dr Nana Kwame Osei Fordjour, has made history after emerging as the first recipient of the Early Career Award established by the African Communication Studies Division of the National Communication Association (NCA).

Dr Osei Fordjour, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland, was selected for the newly established international award recognising outstanding early-career African researchers in communication studies.

He is expected to receive the award at the NCA Convention scheduled to take place from November 19 to 22, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

According to the division’s chair, Professor Godfried Asante, the selection committee was impressed by Dr Osei Fordjour’s extensive academic contributions, Africa-centred research agenda in political communication, and commitment to mentorship and service within the academic community.

The committee also recognised his efforts to advance communication research through perspectives that reflect African experiences and realities.

Reacting to the recognition, Dr Osei Fordjour expressed gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, family and the organisers of the award.

He particularly acknowledged Andrew Donkor, who nominated him, and Professor David Weiss, his academic adviser, for their support throughout his academic journey.

His research focuses on political communication, public relations, crisis communication and media studies. He employs qualitative, critical and mixed-methods approaches, alongside machine-learning techniques, to examine communication issues.

His scholarly contributions have appeared in several international academic journals, including the International Journal of Communication, Journal of Public Relations Research, International Journal of Strategic Communication, Environmental Communication and Communication Management Review.

He has also received Top Paper awards from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Eastern Communication Association and the Western States Communication Association.

Dr Osei Fordjour holds a PhD in Communication from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Before transitioning fully into academia, he spent more than a decade working as a strategic communication consultant for multinational organisations, non-governmental organisations, governments and political candidates across Africa.

His latest recognition highlights his growing contributions to international scholarship and places him among African academics gaining recognition for advancing research and knowledge in communication studies.