Umaru Sanda Amadu walked behind cattle in the scorching sun of Asutsuare Junction before he ever imagined a courtroom. Born into a family of seven children with no formal education, his early days were spent helping his father and siblings make ends meet in the cattle fields of the junction.
In 2003, a district scholarship opened a door for the young man, admitting him to Tema Secondary School. The scholarship was more than financial aid; it was an investment in his potential. After secondary school, Umaru attended the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he began internships at Sena Radio and TV3, and in 2010 joined Citi FM as a national service person.
The temporary posting became the start of a lasting career. He anchored Eyewitness News on Citi 97.3 FM, presented Channel One Newsroom on Channel One TV and hosted FaceToFace on Channel One TV. His work earned him the nickname “Cowboy Journalist,” a nod to his humble beginnings and his rise in one of Ghana’s most demanding professions.
Umaru’s journalism career was decorated with awards: in 2012 his documentary The Fulani Revealed won a Radio for Peace Building award in Kigali; he received a WASH Media Award in 2014; was named Radio Personality of the Year at the Muslim Achievers Awards; and in 2017 the Ghana Journalists Association named him Best Reporter in Sustainable Development Goals.
In January 2021, a police encounter near Odawna-Circle in Accra prompted Umaru to petition the Inspector-General of Police, the Ghana Journalists Association and the National Media Commission. The incident, which he filmed, brought the issues he had reported on closer to home and spurred him to study law.
Balancing a demanding broadcasting career, Umaru enrolled at Central University College in 2021 and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree in 2024. He passed the entrance examinations to the Ghana School of Law on his first attempt and, on October 9, 2026, was called to the Bar at the International Central Gospel Church auditorium in Teshie, Accra, alongside more than 1,500 newly qualified lawyers.
The ceremony was a culmination of years of commitment, with black gowns, white bands and proud families witnessing the achievement. Umaru’s journey from cattle fields to the courtroom exemplifies the power of opportunity, persistence and the courage to pursue possibilities beyond one’s circumstances.
