Olu, Muriel (my mother), Grandma Anniky, Ayo, Kobina | photo credit: Sawyer family archives.

It has been a crazy awesome and crazy challenging 2015. Reflecting on the June 3rd Accra Floods, the December 17th car robbery but in the same token appreciative of the World Economic Forum on Africa conference panelist opportunity in Cape Town, SA my feature in BBC and this newspaper clipping from the Ghana's Daily Graphic, Business edition:

Daily Graphic Business: Tuesday November 3rd-9th 2015 

Helps me appreciate all that has happened this past year even more. In spite of the struggles, challenges and difficulties there are bright spots, real bright spots that have helped deal with each obstacle and challenge. For that I am grateful. A wise person once shared with me that there isn't life without obstacles, and so as I turn thirty, I am contemplative and appreciative about all the victories (big or small) that help make this journey memorable. To all of you who have followed, and continue to follow this blog, thank you. There is more to come, especially as I explore content creation with evermore advanced mobile devices here and here.

If you haven't already, do follow @eagamor on Twitter as I resolve to live in the here and now and celebrate our individual and collective success as #MasterOfTheMoment

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#Deeper #‎IStandOnTheShouldersOfGiants‬ The cute youngest girl, Muriel Vanderpuye, will go on to be the wonderful woman who gives birth to me 30 years from this day. Grateful. ‪#‎SawyerInMe‬ ‪#‎QuarteyInMe‬ ‪#‎Mama‬ ‪#‎MosquitoClaps‬‪ ‪#‎GamorLegacy‬

The Online News Association, the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists, today announced its fifth class of MJ Bear Fellows, three journalists under age 30 whose innovative work in independent, community and corporate news represents the best of new media.

The selection committee combed through 59 applications from 23 countries to choose these up-and-coming digital journalists — two in the United States or Canada and one international, in partnership with MSN International — who are making their voices heard in the industry.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The selection committee felt so strongly about the projects and potential of five other applicants that they were awarded honorable mention. They are:

• Amanda Gutterman, Editorial Director for Slant;
• Carolyn Thompson, reporter for The Windsor (Ont.) Star;
• Emmanuel Gamor, Specialist and Curator for YouTube, Ghana;
• Heather Bryant, Teaching Assistant, Hackbright Academy, San Francisco, and a former digital services editor for KTOO Alaska public radio, and
• Jabril Faraj, reporter for Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Each will each receive a free one-year ONA membership.

“Once again, applicants were leading, not following, in their newsrooms,” said Amy Eisman, MJ Bear Fellowship Committee Chair. “The breadth of their entries was stunning — from deep data work and creative crowdsourcing to building tools to help news organizations in the future. In the end, we are struck by their deep devotion to news and information, to including diverse voices, and to serving their readers, listeners and viewers.”

Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor Online News Agency 2015 Under-30 Digital Journalism Stand-Outs

The Online New Association recently commended Under-30 Digital Journalism Stand-Outs and YFM's Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor made the list as the only commended candidate outside of North America.

Monthly YDialogues WEF Global Shapers Accra & YFM partnership - Emmanuel Gamor - Lead

Emmanuel Gamor is the host for the Mpwr show which airs on Sundays 8pm on Y107.9 FM and also curates YouTube Huddle community in the country. He is also the lead for YDialogues, engaging once-a-month interactive & inspirational sessions hosted by YFM Ghana in partnership with the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Accra Hub. The next Y Dialogues will be held on Saturday September 12th, 2015 10am at the Silver Lounge, Accra Mall.

Saturday May 16th, turned out to be a packed day! After being a guest at many a MESH Confab, I was invited to speak at May 2015 edition and I was humbled and nervous at the same time. The last confab I attended, featured fellow  Ɔdadeɛ +Jayso Skillions, +Nicole Amarteifio  and +Yaw DK Osseo-Asare as speakers. It was insightful, informative and inspirational.

This year +Aisha Obuobi & +Joe Osae-Addo and I got to exchange ideas and engage with the MESH creative society.

Even though I was billed as a "YouTube Expert" I focused more on my personal storytelling journey as a multimedia journalists and made a case to encourage more digital Ghanaian content through collaboration.

A big shout-out to +Sed Tsegah  for taking this picture #MeshConfab2015

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After 5pm I dashed back to Legon to join in on the #DumsorMustStop vigil. I got to Tetteh Quarshie a little after 6pm to join in on the +yvonne nelson & other Ghanaian movie stars and celebrities led non-partisan protest to the country's electricity crisis.

                          

Wanlov "was there some"

Placards demand for a solution to #dumsor

Van Vicker, DKB and D-Black in attendance

Young professionals lamenting the electricity situation

Mr. Sam Mends (Omni media/Citi FM) speaking with the media

See boys.

Fellow Ɔdadeɛ 

Samsung out-doored the Note 4 in a grand fashion with a week of activities at the Accra mall. I got to host & engage with developers on day 4!

#SelfieCompetition

Participants from MEST, other developers

The homeboy//thorn-in-the-flesh Donald Ward put on the activation

Co-MC YFM family/team member Caroline Sampson

The Note 4 is the first Android device after my first iPhone (5c) that I've actually coveted...besides the Amoled display, the S-Pen was actually a joy to play with. Finally note taking on an electronic device was fun and productive. The price point for the Note 4 though...let's just hope the good folks at YFM give that early Christmas bonus.

On day 6 I stopped by to support with the Selfie Competition and ended up winning a Vodafone Mp3 Player. At least I'm getting a head start on the Christmas spirit. #GamorLegacy

Monday October 6th, 2014 was a public holiday in Ghana in honor of Eid Al-Adha. Thus, October's Accra Discourse was a Twitter Debate #AccraDiscourse with hub members: Deborah Ahenkora(@missahenkorah), Donald Ward(@donaldwardgh) & Regina Agyare(@ragyare) leading the discussion.

If you're visiting my blog for the first time, the Accra Discourse is a monthly conversation and networking event where passionate voices in Ghana connect with key drivers within sectors of leadership, business and development to have conversations that contribute to shaping the future of Ghana. The Accra Discourse, is an initiative of the Global Shapers Accra Hub, a community of the World Economic Forum. Posts and pictures from previous Accra Discourses here.

See below if you can find one of my tweets. #BlackStarsWithoutBoots #AccraBoy

First text message I received earlier this week caught my attention. It didn't have to do with team 1000 words photos,  the Mpwr radio show or Youtube GH video projects but rather with my personal twitter account *pause*.

The last few weeks twitter was ablaze with #OccupyGhana #OccupyFlagstaff; US Embassy Tweet versus President Mahama; & even more disturbing #HannahTetteh #HannahTettehSon #Sextape tweets.

Yep, you guessed it, the Minister for Affairs, Hon. Hannah Tetteh responded to tweets about Occupy Ghana, here. Most who who participated felt her tweet on #OccupyFlagstaff was condescending. Hon. Tetteh chastised the US Embassy's tweet here and shortly after, twitter erupted thanks to two leaked sex tapes of students: one featuring Hannah Tetteh's son, oopsie!

I digress, but you can empathize with my anxiety though right? Twitter in Ghana seemed fixated on the scandalous, anyone would have reason for caution. Gratefully here's the image of the text message I received below: listing under New Media: Emmanuel Gamor & my @itakephotos1985 twitter account as one of the 100 Most Influential People on Twitter in Ghana:

Notable honorees include: 

POLITICS/GOVERNMENT/BIZNESS
President John Dramani Mahama, @JDMahama; Hanna Tetteh, @HannaTetteh; Samia Nkrumah, @samiankrumah; Nana Akufo-Addo, @NAkufoAddo; Ozwald Boateng, @Ozwald_Boateng; Alan Kyerematen,@Alankyerematen....

MOVIE INDUSTRY (GHOLLYWOOD)
Yvonne Nelson, @yvonnenelsongh; Freema Agyeman, @FreemaOfficial; Peter Mensah,@PMensahOnline; Boris Kodjoe@BorisKodjoe....

CHURCH
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, @ArchbishopNick; Sam Korankye Ankrah, @SamKorankye; Charles Agyinasare, @Cagyinasare; Dag Heward-Mills, @EvangelistDag...

MUSIC/COMEDY
Sonnie Badu, @SonnieBaduuk; Sarkodie, @sarkodie; Mildred Ashong, @Eazzyfirstlady; Paedae da Pralem (Faisal Hakeem) and Mugeez (Rashid Mugeez) – @r2bees; Sarkodie,@sarkodie; Joey B, @1RealJoeyB; Shatta Wale, @shattawalegh...

SPORTS
Asamoah Gyan,@ASAMOAH_GYAN3; Michael Essien, @MichaelEssien; Afua Hirsch, @afuahirsch; Kwadwo Asamoah,@Asabob20...

LITERARY
Ama Ata Aidoo, @AmaAtaAidoo; The Writeous One, @KwesiiAsomadu; @Kwabena;Kinna, @kinnareads; Crystal Svanikier,@nautyinaccra; Adjoa Ofoe,@adjoaofoe; J.B. Amissah-Arthur, @jbshakes; Nana Kofi Acquah...

PRINT MEDIA
Kenneth Ashigbey,@EdemAshigbey; Fredrick Gyan-Mante,@Freddie_GH; The Writeous One, @KwesiiAsomadu; Manasseh Azure Awuni,@Manasseh_Azure...

BROADCAST MEDIA (TV/RADIO)
Richard Sky, @RichardDelaSky; Michelle Attoh, @MichelleAttoh; Sammy Forson, @sammyforson; Ama K. Abebrese, @Ama_K_Abebrese...

NEW MEDIA

Kajsa Hallberg Adu, @kajsaha; Emmanuel A. Gamor, @itakephotos1985; Ameyaw Debrah, @ameyaw112...

Full list of Ghana's 100 Most Influential People on Twitter, link.

After the Ghana Blackstars had a disappointing run at the World Cup, +The Global Shapers Accra Hub decided to invite two sports journalists to dissect Ghana's campaign accordingly.The Global Shapers hosts an Accra Discourse at La Villa Boutique hotel every first Monday of the month:

July speakers: Sam Fifi Bartels- a Lawyer and Sports Journalist (CITI FM & BBC News) and Nutifafa Atta is a well known Sports Presenter and Analyst on TV3 | Topic: "Football and National Branding in Ghana"

Yawa Hansen-Quao moderating the session

Question & Answer session on the state of football in Ghana

Panelists:  Sam (Left) & Nutifafa, sports journalists 

Fred Deegbe out-going curator handing over to Deborah Ahenkorah

More pictures here:

I'm so psyched for Ghana's national football team's performance and success at this year's Fifa World Cup in Brazil! My VIM dey so much so that I have neglected to acknowledge or event pay attention to some of the facts:

• The Blackstars starting goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda is a suspect when his feet aren't grounded.
• No African country, including Ghana has gone to the semi's in the World Cup competition before, ever.
• Though we have returning strikers, midfielders and players; most (except 1 player) who play in international competition, we do not have a break out top 10 world class play maker/scorer: Messi, Christian Ronaldo, Neymar, Bale to name a few. Asamoah Gyan, Kevin Prince Boateng notwithstanding. 
• Team chemistry is key to progressing during the World Cup and the friendlies I have seen thus far (yes they are Coach Appiah's experiment's on individual performance) has lacked overall display of strong team chemistry.

Nevertheless I'm so excited about the Blackstars that I'm taking pictures of Ghana Flags with my phone at work, spending Youtube time checking out the latest highlights of teams we're playing Portugal Germany and USA in the Group of Death. Pah, victory is sweetest with a formidable foe abi?

Ghana Osee Yee!

At work, I take pictures of flags/any patriotic paraphernalia to counteract my colleague +Ryan Michael's consistent prayers for America's victory during our first match in the competition. Tweeaa! 

I resorted to posting this fantastic sketch I found on Instagram of Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan and Kevin Prince Boateng celebrating victoriously (you see my foreshadowing tings) on all my social media accounts for good measure. After scoring 4-0 to an unorganized South Korea, we're heading to Brazil with a winning attitude; turn down for what?! #MostVim

Maria Tolsa, journalist from Finnish TV YLE flew into Accra to cover a story on young entrepreneurs making strides in their home country. My Y FM homie, J. O. E. L. and I were captured on camera.

The segment we're featured starts at 11:05: http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2197046

I was vetted & selected into the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Accra Hub (mouthful, I know) in the middle of last year. The group comprises of 13 other phenomenal young Ghanaian leaders working together on projects to make a positive difference.  One of the projects we've embarked on since January 2014 is the monthly Accra Discourse.

The Accra Discourse is a monthly conversation and networking event where passionate voices in Ghana connect with key drivers within sectors of leadership, business and development to have conversations that contribute to shaping the future of Ghana. Past guests include Young Global Leaders as well as enterpreneurial mavens in the country. I have learnt quite a bit and I look forward to the first Monday of every month discussions at 6:30pm at La Villa Boutique, Osu Accra.

 

The Accra Discourse January:
This is the launch of a series of monthly conversations about change/entrepreneurshipleadership and development in Ghana. January speaker: Ruben Atekpe, Executive Chairman, Merchants Company of West Africa – MECOWA Group, Ghana.

The Accra Discourse February:
This is a series of monthly conversations about change/entrepreneurship>leadership and development in Ghana. February speaker: Kofi Kwakwa is the Founder and CEO of Sagevest Holdings.

The Accra Discourse March:
March panel discussion on women's leadership featuring Estelle Akofio-Sowah the CEO of Google Ghana, Akua Nyame-Mensah, the CEO of Lamudi & Hanna Atiase, Sales Manager of Ghana Home Loans. #TheAccraDiscourse

Besides meeting progressive minded people, The Accra Discourse has been a great opportunity to chart a positive way forward& shape my little corner in the world into a better place.

A positive habit I picked up in college was to channel negative circumstances to positive, do-good energy and this year I made a conscious effort to participate in Rotary/Rotaract activities: Fellowship through Service.
My Presec schoolmate, Samuel Darko invited me to visit the Rotaract Club of Adentan, he previously presided over, to work on a "Blood Drive" earlier this year; and I stayed around long enough to be end up getting inducted. Adding on to my positive, doing-good is a chance to travel to local and international clubs by performing Fellowship through Service starting with Catholic University College, Sunyani. My first time in Sunyani, an amazingly warm experience with fantastic people, take a look for yourself:

The world-renowned Accra International Marathon happened the end of last month (Saturday September 29th, to be precise) and my co-host Double A and I got to interview the founder and organizer Ekua Bannerman-Richter of the annual Accra International Marathon on our MPwr radio show.

I participated in ETV/Japan Motors corporate run days earlier, so I opted to  support friends and loved-ones who participated in this marathon, and yes, get a few pictures of what ensued. Everyone who participated, from corporate teams, individual runners in the women & youth sections, was a winner. Shout out to Ekua Bannerman-Richter & her team for a superb job well done, with participants coming from across the world to participate. More pictures here: AIM pictures