The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has paid a glowing tribute to its former Executive Director, Francis Dadzie, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth and transformation of the advertising and communications industry in the country.
The honour was conferred at the 2025 edition of the Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards, held in Accra last Saturday (June 28).
Citation
Mr Dadzie, who served the association for more than 25 years before retiring in December 2023, was presented with a citation acknowledging his exemplary service, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to industry advancement.
Describing him as a pillar of institutional memory and a relentless advocate for excellence, the AAG praised his leadership through decades of change in media, marketing, professional training, and consumer engagement.
During his tenure, the association gained both local and international visibility and influence, while industry standards, ethical practices, and regulatory frameworks were significantly strengthened.
His guidance helped transform the Gong Gong Festival into a nationally recognised platform for creative excellence, and through mentorship and empowerment, he inspired generations of advertising professionals.
He also spearheaded the formation of strategic partnerships that elevated the industry’s voice and positioning across the continent.
Appreciation
Surrounded by his wife and some executive members of the AAG, Mr Dadzie, who was visibly elated, said he felt fulfilled to see how far the industry had grown since he began his journey with the AAG on September 1, 1999.
“We didn’t do it for anything, but we just wanted to make an impact for God and country,” he said.
Recounting his early days, he noted that he left the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to join the AAG on the same salary—not out of financial motivation, but out of a belief that he had something valuable to contribute.
“I thought I had the leadership skills I could bring to bear and transform and enhance the industry,” he added.
He explained that regulation and standards remained at the heart of his work, and he played a key role in setting structures to guide the sector’s evolution.
Plans underway
While officially retired from the AAG, Mr Dadzie revealed that he remained active behind the scenes, with plans underway to author a book detailing the evolution of Ghana’s advertising industry—from where he met it to where it is now and its future trajectory.
He also expressed concern over the lack of a legal framework to give the AAG the authority to enforce standards, particularly in the out-of-home advertising space, lamenting that things had worsened since his retirement.
“It’s become a free-for-all now,” he said but pledged his readiness to support agencies like the National Road Safety Authority in enforcing regulations as a consultant—without compensation—out of love for the country.
Acknowledgement
Mr Dadzie acknowledged the many individuals who supported his leadership over the years, including former AAG presidents such as Emmanuel Addo, Joel Nettey, who is also the current President and Chairman of the International Advertising Association and the late Torgbor Mensah.
He also expressed pride in the current leadership of the association, many of whom he trained as students through courses he initiated to fill the gap in formal advertising education at the time.
“There was no training on advertising in this country. I had to train people, organise courses for them to have the knowledge,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Mr Dadzie said he was committed to bringing together key institutions such as the AAG, the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) to speak with a unified voice on marketing communication issues in the industry.
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