Introduction
The Africa Centre for Democracy and Media (ACDeM) was founded on a simple but powerful conviction: that Africa's long-term prosperity, stability, and development depend upon strong democratic institutions, informed citizens, accountable leadership, and an independent and professional media.
Across the continent, important progress has been made in expanding democratic participation and strengthening governance systems. Yet many countries continue to face challenges relating to public accountability, transparency, misinformation and disinformation, declining public trust in institutions, political polarisation, and limitations in the availability and accessibility of reliable information.
At the same time, journalists, policymakers, academics, civil society organisations, and citizens often operate within separate spheres with limited opportunities for meaningful engagement and collaboration. This disconnect can weaken public discourse, reduce trust, and limit the effectiveness of democratic governance.
The Africa Centre for Democracy and Media was established to help bridge these gaps by creating a platform for research, dialogue, education, leadership development, and collaboration among key democratic stakeholders.
Why I Founded ACDeM
My decision to establish ACDeM is rooted in both personal experience and professional observation. My own educational journey began under difficult circumstances. Due to financial constraints within my family, I was unable to proceed directly to secondary education after completing my basic schooling. Determined to continue my studies, I pursued my secondary and sixth-form education privately before gaining admission to the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
That experience taught me the value of perseverance, education, and opportunity. It also deepened my appreciation of the importance of inclusive societies in which citizens have access to information, participation, and the institutions necessary to shape their futures.
Over more than three decades in journalism and over two decades in academia, I have witnessed first-hand the close relationship between democratic governance, access to credible information, and institutional accountability. I have also observed how the absence of constructive engagement between media, policymakers, researchers, and citizens can undermine public trust and weaken democratic processes. These experiences ultimately shaped my conviction that Africa needs stronger platforms that can bring together knowledge, policy, journalism, and civic engagement in ways that support democratic development and institutional resilience. ACDeM was therefore, founded to contribute to that objective.
Vision and Mission
The vision of ACDeM is to become a leading African institution advancing democratic governance, media excellence, public accountability, and informed citizen participation anchored on the rule of law, human dignity, equality, and diversity.
Our mission is to generate knowledge, facilitate dialogue, develop leadership capacity, promote professional journalism, and evidence-based solutions that contribute to stronger democratic institutions and more resilient societies across Africa.
The Centre seeks to serve as a trusted convener of ideas, bringing together journalists, policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, development partners, and citizens to address some of the most pressing governance and communication challenges facing the continent.
Strategic Priorities
The work of ACDeM will focus on six interrelated areas:
- i) Democratic Governance and Accountability Supporting initiatives that strengthen public institutions, transparency, accountability mechanisms, and democratic oversight.
- ii) Media Excellence and Professional Journalism Promoting ethical, independent, and professional journalism through training, research, capacity development, and professional exchange.
- iii) Public Policy Research and Analysis Producing evidence-based research and policy analysis to inform decision-making and contribute to effective governance.
- iv) Civic Education and Democratic Participation Encouraging informed citizenship, democratic engagement, and public participation in governance processes.
- v) Leadership Development Supporting the development of ethical and capable leaders across public institutions, civil society, media, and community organisations.
- vi) Digital Democracy and Information Integrity Addressing challenges associated with misinformation, disinformation, digital governance, and the rapidly evolving information environment.
Through these priorities, ACDeM seeks to contribute practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary governance and media challenges while supporting democratic resilience across Africa.
Why Ghana?
ACDeM's operational hub is being established in Ghana, a country widely recognised for its democratic traditions, vibrant media environment, relative political stability, and strategic location within West Africa.
Ghana provides an enabling environment for policy dialogue, research, civic engagement, and regional collaboration. From this foundation, ACDeM intends to develop programmes that initially serve West Africa while progressively expanding partnerships and activities across the continent.
Founder's Background and Experience
The establishment of ACDeM is informed by extensive experience across journalism, governance, public policy, higher education, and civil society leadership.
My academic qualifications include a Diploma in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, a Master's degree in International Journalism from Cardiff University, a PhD in Politics and Multi-Level Governance from Cardiff University, and an MBA from the University of South Wales. I have also undertaken professional journalism training programmes in The Netherlands and Germany.
Professionally, I began my journalism career in 1989 and progressed from general reporting to specialise in political and economic journalism. I later became Deputy Features Editor of the Daily Graphic, Ghana's largest and most widely circulated newspaper, where I also wrote extensively on national governance and public affairs.
I subsequently worked in radio broadcasting and held leadership positions within the Ghana Journalists Association, including Deputy General Secretary and Acting General Secretary. One of the notable initiatives undertaken during my tenure with the Ghana Journalists Association was leading efforts in the organisation of Ghana's first presidential election debate in 2000. Supported by the Freedom Forum, this initiative helped establish a tradition that continues to play an important role in Ghana's democratic process.
Alongside my journalism career, I have spent more than twenty years teaching and conducting research in universities in the United Kingdom, Ghana, and internationally. My teaching and research have focused on political science, governance, media and communication, business, and public policy.
I also served as Secretary-General of the PEN Africa Network between 2013 and 2019, advocating for press freedom, freedom of expression, and the protection of journalists and writers across the African continent. Through collaboration with national and international partners, we engaged governments on issues affecting media freedom and democratic rights.
Collectively, these experiences have reinforced my belief that sustainable democratic development requires strong institutions, informed public discourse, accountable leadership, and independent media.
Building for the Long Term
ACDeM is being established with a long-term institutional vision. Our objective is not simply to organise events or publish reports. Rather, we seek to build a durable and respected institution capable of serving future generations of journalists, researchers, policymakers, civic leaders, and citizens.
To achieve this, ACDeM is committed to:
- Institutional independence
- Professional excellence
- Good governance
- Financial sustainability
- Strategic partnerships
- Transparency and accountability
- Evidence-based engagement
- Measurable impact
The Centre will operate on a strictly non-partisan basis and remain committed to democratic values, professional integrity, and constructive engagement.
Invitation to Partner
The challenges facing democratic governance, public accountability, and information integrity across Africa are significant. Yet the continent is also home to remarkable opportunities, growing civic engagement, dynamic leadership, and a new generation committed to positive change.
The Africa Centre for Democracy and Media seeks to contribute to this future by strengthening democratic institutions, supporting professional journalism, promoting informed public discourse, and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders.
We recognise that meaningful and sustainable impact requires partnership. We therefore invite foundations, development agencies, universities, media organisations, civil society institutions, policymakers, researchers, and philanthropic partners who share these values to join us in building an institution capable of making a lasting contribution to democratic development across Africa.
Together, we can help strengthen accountability, improve public dialogue, support media excellence, and contribute to more resilient democratic societies.
My Pledge
I want ACDeM to be very independent of myself and have a lasting legacy for the African continent.
As the Founder, I am the custodian of the original vision, but not the owner of the institution. The Board is the guardian of the mission; the Executive Director leads the organisation; and future leaders shall be selected through transparent and merit-based processes. ACDeM therefore belongs to its mission, not to any one person; and the legacy I want to leave is that I created an institution that continues to serve Africa long after my direct involvement.
Dr Frankie Asare-Donkoh (PhD, MBA, MA, FHEA) Founder & Executive Director
