54 years in Journalism Profession
Achievements of Veteran Journalist Isaac Fritz Andoh
By Damian Avevor
Undoubtedly, retired Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard, Mr. Isaac Fritz Andoh, an internationally respected expert in the field of Journalism, is one of the longest practicing Journalists in Ghana after serving in the profession for 54 years, 37 at the Ghana News Agency, and 17 years at The Catholic Standard without flaw.
He started his Journalism career as a Reporter at the Ghana News Agency in 1961 and rose through the ranks to the top most editorial position of the Agency as a Supervising Chief Editor.
For ten years, he was the East Africa Correspondent of the Agency based in Nairobi, Kenya, covering international assignments in many countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Zambia, Lesotho, Senegal, Sudan, Congo, Benin and Germany.
He has travelled worldwide and had visited 30 out of the 51 States in the United States of America (USA), lodging at places including the world-famous Wadorth Astoria Hotel in New York, which has been considered as a preserve for Kings and Presidents.
His Journalism Profession has also sent him to the Vatican, where he met St. Pope John Paul II in 2000, during the Jubilee of Journalists.
On retirement from the Ghana News Agency in 1996, he joined The Catholic Standard in 1998 as the Editor and worked in this position for 17 years, the longest serving Editor of the Paper until his retirement in December, 2015.
On the 70th Anniversary of The Catholic Standard in 2008, Mr. Andoh was presented with a Citation of Honour by the Board of SNAM for enhancing the quality and content of the Paper.
He successfully organized ten Nuncio Awards Ceremonies, initiated by Archbishop George Kocherry, a former Nuncio to Ghana, to promote The Catholic Standard.
He served the nation as a former member of the National Media Commission and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation.
He was a part-time Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he taught Editing, Reporting, on Contemporary Issues and Public Affairs Reporting.
Mr. Andoh is one of the five African Journalists who wrote the Book: Journalism Ethics in Africa, edited by Professor Francis Kasoma of the University of Zambia. His Chapter was on Ethics in News Gathering.
Mr. Andoh has presented many Papers at various Workshops and Seminars in Kenya, Benin, Germany and Ghana, including “Labour Movement and the Media as Effective Tools for National Development” – December, 1989; “The Image of Women as Portrayed in the Print Media in Ghana” – April 26, 1990 and “News Coverage under Constitutional Rule” – September 23, 1991.
A Fellow of the World Press Institute (WPI) in the United States, he studied at the International Press Institute (IPI), Nairobi, Kenya; the International Institute of Journalism (IIJB) in Berlin, Germany and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, Nigeria.
On completion of his studies at the WPI in the United States, Dr. James Toscano, one time Director of the World Press Institute, stated: Mr. Andoh is one of the finest, most ethical and considerate people that I know ……. He is a Journalist respected by his Professional Peers throughout the world, a person of Independent Judgment.
Mr. Andoh studied with thirteen (13) other Journalists from different parts of the World. He is a Recipient of the International Institute of Journalism Jubilee Award (1988); Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Award for dedication and immense contribution to the development of the GJA and Journalism (April 1998) and was mentioned by the 1989/90 GJA Media Award Committee for Journalistic Excellence.
He holds a Diploma in Journalism (with Distinction) from the IPI, a Certificate in Journalism from IIJ in Berlin and a Certificate in American Studies from the WPI.
He was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons appointed by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to revise the 1996 Guidelines on Election Coverage of the Association.
He was also a member of the Task Force that developed the Ecumenical All Africa Press Service (APS) in Nairobi, Kenya. He also served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee set up by the GJA to formulate the Code of Ethics of the Association and played a very significant role in this respect.
Mr. Andoh served as a UNESCO Consultant to the Lesotho Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the establishment of the Lesotho News Agency (June-July 1994).
The Veteran Journalist has served on Mass Communication Committee of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO and one-time Publicity Secretary of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA).
His active involvement in media-related activities of the Catholic Church in Ghana, dates back to 1974 when he served as a member of the Publicity Committee of the Holy Year Celebration.
Currently, he is a Patron of the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners - Ghana (CAMP-G) and several Groups and Societies at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, where he worships.
Sharing his experience as a retired Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard, Mr. Andoh said it was a privilege to serve the Church in that capacity for 17 years, a task he said had not been easy but through the love and favour of God, he was able to sustain the Paper on the Newsstand.
He expressed joy that under his leadership, the Paper had managed to go colour front and back pages as well as the centre pages.
He thanked Staff who supported him for 17 years of dedicated service to the Church, advising them to continue to read wide to enhance their professionalism.
On the future of the Paper, he was optimistic that it has brighter prospects, if Staff continued to maintain the journalistic principles and ethics as well as put in their best.
On December 18, the Board, Management and Staff bade Mr. Andoh farewell during which a Citation which enumerated his achievements was presented to him at a ceremony for his unwavering dedication to duty, exceptionally skillful and meticulous editing.
The Citation described him as a skillful Editor who performed his duties with honour and distinction.
“You are innovative and brought your vast journalistic knowledge to impact positively on the fortunes of The Catholic Standard, the Citation stated.
Mr. Andoh, who hails from Elmina, in the Central Region is a baptized and confirmed Catholic.
He is married to Colonel (Rtd.) Mrs. Monica Andoh, an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and a former Principal of 37 Military Hospital Nursing School, with whom he has three (3) children; Anthonia, a Research Scientist; Nathan, an I.T. Practitioner and Ellen, a Banker.
Undoubtedly, retired Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard, Mr. Isaac Fritz Andoh, an internationally respected expert in the field of Journalism, is one of the longest practicing Journalists in Ghana after serving in the profession for 54 years, 37 at the Ghana News Agency, and 17 years at The Catholic Standard without flaw.
He started his Journalism career as a Reporter at the Ghana News Agency in 1961 and rose through the ranks to the top most editorial position of the Agency as a Supervising Chief Editor.
For ten years, he was the East Africa Correspondent of the Agency based in Nairobi, Kenya, covering international assignments in many countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Zambia, Lesotho, Senegal, Sudan, Congo, Benin and Germany.
He has travelled worldwide and had visited 30 out of the 51 States in the United States of America (USA), lodging at places including the world-famous Wadorth Astoria Hotel in New York, which has been considered as a preserve for Kings and Presidents.
His Journalism Profession has also sent him to the Vatican, where he met St. Pope John Paul II in 2000, during the Jubilee of Journalists.
On retirement from the Ghana News Agency in 1996, he joined The Catholic Standard in 1998 as the Editor and worked in this position for 17 years, the longest serving Editor of the Paper until his retirement in December, 2015.
On the 70th Anniversary of The Catholic Standard in 2008, Mr. Andoh was presented with a Citation of Honour by the Board of SNAM for enhancing the quality and content of the Paper.
He successfully organized ten Nuncio Awards Ceremonies, initiated by Archbishop George Kocherry, a former Nuncio to Ghana, to promote The Catholic Standard.
He served the nation as a former member of the National Media Commission and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation.
He was a part-time Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he taught Editing, Reporting, on Contemporary Issues and Public Affairs Reporting.
Mr. Andoh is one of the five African Journalists who wrote the Book: Journalism Ethics in Africa, edited by Professor Francis Kasoma of the University of Zambia. His Chapter was on Ethics in News Gathering.
Mr. Andoh has presented many Papers at various Workshops and Seminars in Kenya, Benin, Germany and Ghana, including “Labour Movement and the Media as Effective Tools for National Development” – December, 1989; “The Image of Women as Portrayed in the Print Media in Ghana” – April 26, 1990 and “News Coverage under Constitutional Rule” – September 23, 1991.
A Fellow of the World Press Institute (WPI) in the United States, he studied at the International Press Institute (IPI), Nairobi, Kenya; the International Institute of Journalism (IIJB) in Berlin, Germany and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, Nigeria.
On completion of his studies at the WPI in the United States, Dr. James Toscano, one time Director of the World Press Institute, stated: Mr. Andoh is one of the finest, most ethical and considerate people that I know ……. He is a Journalist respected by his Professional Peers throughout the world, a person of Independent Judgment.
Mr. Andoh studied with thirteen (13) other Journalists from different parts of the World. He is a Recipient of the International Institute of Journalism Jubilee Award (1988); Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Award for dedication and immense contribution to the development of the GJA and Journalism (April 1998) and was mentioned by the 1989/90 GJA Media Award Committee for Journalistic Excellence.
He holds a Diploma in Journalism (with Distinction) from the IPI, a Certificate in Journalism from IIJ in Berlin and a Certificate in American Studies from the WPI.
He was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons appointed by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to revise the 1996 Guidelines on Election Coverage of the Association.
He was also a member of the Task Force that developed the Ecumenical All Africa Press Service (APS) in Nairobi, Kenya. He also served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee set up by the GJA to formulate the Code of Ethics of the Association and played a very significant role in this respect.
Mr. Andoh served as a UNESCO Consultant to the Lesotho Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the establishment of the Lesotho News Agency (June-July 1994).
The Veteran Journalist has served on Mass Communication Committee of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO and one-time Publicity Secretary of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA).
His active involvement in media-related activities of the Catholic Church in Ghana, dates back to 1974 when he served as a member of the Publicity Committee of the Holy Year Celebration.
Currently, he is a Patron of the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners - Ghana (CAMP-G) and several Groups and Societies at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, where he worships.
Sharing his experience as a retired Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard, Mr. Andoh said it was a privilege to serve the Church in that capacity for 17 years, a task he said had not been easy but through the love and favour of God, he was able to sustain the Paper on the Newsstand.
He expressed joy that under his leadership, the Paper had managed to go colour front and back pages as well as the centre pages.
He thanked Staff who supported him for 17 years of dedicated service to the Church, advising them to continue to read wide to enhance their professionalism.
On the future of the Paper, he was optimistic that it has brighter prospects, if Staff continued to maintain the journalistic principles and ethics as well as put in their best.
On December 18, the Board, Management and Staff bade Mr. Andoh farewell during which a Citation which enumerated his achievements was presented to him at a ceremony for his unwavering dedication to duty, exceptionally skillful and meticulous editing.
The Citation described him as a skillful Editor who performed his duties with honour and distinction.
“You are innovative and brought your vast journalistic knowledge to impact positively on the fortunes of The Catholic Standard, the Citation stated.
Mr. Andoh, who hails from Elmina, in the Central Region is a baptized and confirmed Catholic.
He is married to Colonel (Rtd.) Mrs. Monica Andoh, an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and a former Principal of 37 Military Hospital Nursing School, with whom he has three (3) children; Anthonia, a Research Scientist; Nathan, an I.T. Practitioner and Ellen, a Banker.
