Legon Observer

The Legon Observer, the journal of the Legon Society for National Affairs (LSNA), was established in July 1966 as a fortnightly publication.[1] With a base in the political science faculty of the University of Ghana at Legon, it established itself as an important critical voice during the military rule of the National Liberation Council.[2] In the 1969 elections it called for a "third force", between Komla Agbeli Gbedemah's National Alliance of Liberals and Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party.[3] Some supported the All People's Congress, led by John Bilson, who later ran for president as a Third Force Party candidate. From 1974 to 1978 the newspaper was effectively banned:[1] General Acheampong withheld foreign exchange to block the import of newsprint, and arrested and detained editors.[4]

Editors included Yaw Twumasi and Kwame Arhin.[1]

In 2007 a New Legon Observer was launched, under the acting editorship of Ernest Aryeetey, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Daniel Miles McFarland, Historical Dictionary of Ghana, Scarecrow Press, 1995, p. 116.
  2. ^ Robert Pinkney, Ghana under military rule, 1966-1969, Taylor & Francis, 1972, p. 43
  3. ^ Max Assimeng, 'The Third Force: dynamics of an ideal' and Kwame Oduro, 'The Need for a Third Force', in Legon Observer 4:14 (17 July 1969)
  4. ^ Kwadwo Anokwa, 'Press Performance under Civilian and Military Regimes in Ghana', in Festus Eribo & William Jong-Ebot, Press Freedom and Communication in Africa, Africa World Press, 1997, p. 14
  5. ^ Caroline Boateng, New Legon Observer Launched, Daily Graphic, 3 December 2007