On 2 October 1950, the Daily Graphic was launched, marking a pivotal moment in Ghanaian media history. The new paper introduced a technologically advanced printing process to the then Gold Coast, setting it apart from the traditional broadsheets that dominated the market.
Unlike its competitors, the Graphic featured a pictorial tabloid format and focused on crisp news reports rather than elite opinion pieces. Articles carried bylines from living journalists such as S.N. Addo and Anthony Mensah, and photographs were plentiful throughout the publication.
The paper also pioneered a dedicated sports section, offering commentary on football clubs and their stars, again with clear author attribution. Feature stories, written by writers like Moses Danquah, Bankole Timothy, Carl Mutt (Henry Ofori) and women writers including Regina Addae, blended education and entertainment with a strong command of English.
Such innovation alarmed rival newspapers and local chiefs. The editor of the long‑standing Spectator, Dr Nanka Bruce, petitioned the Joint Provincial Council of Chiefs at Dodowa to suppress the Graphic, urging a boycott to protect traditional values. The chiefs declined to ban the paper but suggested that Martin Therson‑Cofie, then editor of the Ashanti Times, take over the Graphic as a compromise.
The London‑based Daily Mirror group accepted the proposal, appointing Therson‑Cofie as editor at a time when the Gold Coast was still reeling from the 1948 shooting of three ex‑servicemen by colonial police. This leadership change helped the Graphic navigate the turbulent political climate and cement its place as Ghana’s oldest newspaper.
Today, the Daily Graphic celebrates its 76th anniversary, a testament to its enduring influence on Ghanaian journalism and its role in shaping public discourse for over seven decades.
