03/04/2026
My Bittersweet Milestone: 14 Years as a Photojournalist with Multimedia Group.
Exactly 14 years ago, on April 3, 2012, I joined myjoyonline.com, a department of Joynews, as an online photojournalist.
The job was demanding, but with God's guidance, I sustained myself.
It was the passion that drove me, and my work earned several awards.
However, my journey wasn't without challenges.
I've experienced both warm and cold moments, but four incidents remain vivid in my memory.
I'd like to share one of them with you today – it was about how an ambitious photo essay ended with me being photographed by a group of fishermen in Jamestown.
It was a tough fishing season for James Town fishermen. The pre-mixed fuel supply, essential for their outboard motors, was delayed, causing anxiety and frustration.
On the day of the incident, I received a tip that a fuel tanker had arrived, and fishermen were collecting their supplies. I headed to the beach to capture the moment for a photo essay.
As I began interviewing and photographing the fishermen, some became agitated, questioning my presence.
Despite explaining my mission to the chief fisherman, tensions escalated, and I was mobbed by angry fishermen.
My jotter was destroyed, and my camera and press ID were taken.
The situation turned ugly, with threats to smash my camera and accusations of being a fake journalist.
When they saw I worked with the Multimedia Group, they became infuriated, and they asked me to mention my CEO’s name, and I told them that I didn’t know his name because I joined the company not too long ago.
The answer I gave them didn't go down well; they threatened to smash my camera, hurling insults at me.
It was during that humiliating and emotionally troubling time that an elderly man intervened, speaking Ga to the fishermen.
He explained that I was doing my job as a journalist and that it was an offense to subject me to such embarrassment.
He retrieved my camera and press ID, allowing me to leave. In fact, given my experience, the incident where fishermen turned the tables and photographed me has left an indelible mark on me.
I was baffled by the fishermen's hostility until I learned that pre-mixed fuel is a politicized commodity, often involving underhanded dealings in its distribution. Media exposure wasn't welcome, hence their reaction.
Reflecting on that incident, I'm reminded of the challenges photo journalists face, and how a moment of bravery can make a lasting impact.