Bernard Koku Avle also known as Bernardino Koku Avle is a Ghanaian broadcast journalist, the current host of one of the most popular radio shows in Ghana “The Citi Breakfast Show” and the host of the “Point Of View Show” on Citi TV. Bernard is also a Founding Director of iJourno Africa- a fast-growing network of data journalism enthusiasts who mentor & train young reporters on the basics of knowledge-based journalism.
Bernard was born on 20th May 1981 and had his basic education at the University of Ghana Primary School, Legon. Bernard continued to the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (Presec) for his secondary school education. He then got admission into the University of Ghana, Legon where he obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Economics with distinction.
While in his first year at the University of Ghana in the year 2000, Bernard was invited by a friend to participate in a debate competition, and although Bernard did not win the competition he got his first job in radio because of his charisma and ethusiasm displayed during the contest, that was how Bernard accidentally entered into radio.
After national service in 2004, Bernard got a job at the Citi Fm one of Ghana’s most influential radio stations and has since served in several capacities.
Bernard has been on radio for about 18 years and transitioned to TV in 2018 when Citi TV officially started airing. He also created and anchored a highly-rated current affairs TV show on Viasat One TV-“The Ghana Report,” until December 2016, and serves as the Director of News Programming at Citi 97.3 FM in Accra. While on the job, Bernard obtained an MBA in Marketing from the Warwick Business School in the UK as a Chevening Scholar.
In 2017, Bernard Avle together with Citi Fm launched an advocacy campaign against illegal small scale mining also known as Galamsey which has destroyed Ghana’s water bodies over the years.
Personal Life
Bernard Avle is married to Justine Avle with three children – all boys. The couple tied the knot in 2011
Honours
Bernard has received several awards and honours for his work in Journalism
In 2007, “The Citi Breakfast Show” was named the “Interactive/Talk Show of the Year” at the BBC’s Africa Radio Awards in Nairobi Kenya, as well as “Radio Program of the Year 2013 and again in 2015” by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG).
Bernard was also recently named one of Ghana’s 20 most influential business leaders under 40 by the Business World Magazine. Bernard is also an Edward R. Murrow Fellow of Journalism.
In 2017, the Ghana Chamber of Mines gave Bernard’s show an excellence award for the work he did for Galamsey.
The Citi Breakfast Show of which Bernard is the host was awarded the best Radio morning show for three consecutive times, in 20917, 2018 and 2019 by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
References
- “Citi Breakfast Show named CIMG radio programme of the year [Photos]”. ModernGhana.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
- How to survive the vicissitudes that affect media | Bernardino Koku Avle | TEDxAccra, 2015
- How the media influences Ghana | Bernard Avle | TEDxOsu, 2018
- “Launch of Chevening Alumni Ghana Association – News articles – GOV.UK”. http://www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
- “Citi FM’s Bernard Avle named 2017 Journalist of the Year”. Citi Newsroom. 2018-10-28.
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