WAFRIC Awards 2026 Nominee Spotlight | Media Personality of the Year | Ghana
Media personalities can influence public conversation in different ways: through television, interviews, public communication, advocacy and the issues they choose to bring into the spotlight. Shalimar Abbiusi’s public journey has crossed several of these spaces, from presenting and modelling to international communication and humanitarian initiatives.
Recognised for her public-facing work in Ghana, Abbiusi has developed a profile that extends beyond conventional entertainment media. Her experiences have placed her at the intersection of media visibility, public affairs and social advocacy, making her a nominee for Media Personality of the Year at the West African Citizens Awards 2026, representing Ghana.
From presenting and modelling to public recognition
Born in Belgium into a Belgian-Italian family, Abbiusi developed a public profile through modelling and television presenting before becoming known to a wider Ghanaian audience. A profile published by Ghana Street Journal in November 2024 described her multilingual background, including English, French, Italian and Twi, as well as her education in biomedical laboratory technology.
Her transition into public communication illustrates how media careers can evolve beyond a single professional category. Presenting and modelling placed her before audiences, while subsequent public-facing roles brought her into conversations involving civic participation, leadership and Ghana’s social and political landscape.
Her career has not followed a conventional route confined to entertainment programming. Instead, her public identity has developed through a combination of media work, advocacy and communications responsibilities.
A prominent voice in public communication
Abbiusi gained significant national attention in Ghana during her time as a spokesperson for The New Force movement. The position placed her in the public eye and brought her into interviews and wider media coverage.
Her experience as a spokesperson also demonstrated how media skills can be applied outside traditional broadcasting. Public communication requires more than visibility: it involves explaining positions, engaging with audiences and navigating the scrutiny that comes with speaking on behalf of an organisation.
Her time in that role became a defining chapter of her public profile. However, it is important to distinguish that past association from her subsequent activities. In a public statement reported in 2026, Abbiusi clarified that she was no longer affiliated with or representing The New Force and related organisations.
Her broader professional story therefore extends beyond that particular chapter and includes media work, international engagement and humanitarian initiatives.
International engagement and African governance
In October 2024, MyJoyOnline reported that Abbiusi had been appointed as an electoral journalist for African Union elections. The report also described her involvement in initiatives connected to the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture, with a stated focus on issues affecting women and young people.
The reported appointment reflected another dimension of her public-facing work: communication in settings concerned with governance and continental affairs. Media professionals can contribute to these spaces by helping communicate complex issues to wider audiences and drawing attention to the experiences of communities whose voices are not always prominent in public debate.
For a personality whose career has moved between presenting, public communication and advocacy, this international dimension adds context to the range of roles associated with her name.
Humanitarian work and the I Am Human Foundation
Another important part of Abbiusi’s public profile is her association with the I Am Human Foundation.
In December 2025, Starr FM reported that the foundation carried out a Farmers’ Day outreach in Nima, Accra, distributing more than 300 packs of food and drinks to community members. The beneficiaries included traders, market women and men, persons with disabilities and other residents.
The report connected the initiative to Abbiusi’s stated desire to give back to a community in Ghana that had influenced her humanitarian mission. The activity offers a concrete example of how her public platform has also been associated with community-focused work.
Humanitarian advocacy can take many forms, from raising awareness to organising practical support. In this instance, the reported outreach provided material assistance to residents, illustrating a community-facing dimension of her work beyond media appearances.
The foundation’s activities form part of a wider public narrative around using visibility to draw attention to human needs and social inclusion. Its work and impact should ultimately be assessed through its documented initiatives and sustained outcomes, rather than public recognition alone.
Media visibility, advocacy and public responsibility
The career of a media personality is not measured only by the number of appearances made or the size of an audience. Public visibility can also create opportunities to engage with social issues, communicate across different communities and bring attention to causes.
Abbiusi’s experience reflects this broader understanding of public life. Her work has included presenting, modelling, public communication, reported international engagement and humanitarian outreach. Each has involved a different relationship with audiences, from entertainment and media consumers to people following public affairs or participating in community initiatives.
Her story also illustrates the responsibilities that accompany visibility. Public figures operating across media and civic spaces are often subject to scrutiny, changing public perceptions and competing interpretations of their work. A balanced assessment therefore considers documented contributions while recognising that a public career can evolve over time.
For Abbiusi, her nomination offers an opportunity to consider the breadth of her public-facing activities rather than defining her solely by one role or episode.
Why Shalimar Abbiusi is nominated for WAFRIC Awards 2026
The West African Citizens Awards celebrates individuals whose work and contributions merit recognition across the region. Abbiusi’s nomination for Media Personality of the Year, representing Ghana, places her among the personalities being recognised for their public presence and professional contributions.
Her journey has moved from presenting and modelling into wider public communication, international engagement and humanitarian initiatives. The different stages of that journey demonstrate how a media profile can extend beyond the screen into conversations about governance, social responsibility and community support.
As WAFRIC Awards 2026 brings together nominees from across West Africa, her nomination provides an opportunity to recognise the different ways public personalities can engage with audiences and participate in wider social conversations.
The central question is not simply how visible a personality becomes, but how that visibility is used and what contributions can be documented over time.
Support Shalimar Abbiusi at WAFRIC Awards 2026
Shalimar Abbiusi is nominated for Media Personality of the Year, representing Ghana, at the West African Citizens Awards 2026.
This edition carries the theme:
Recognizing the Unseen. Celebrating the Exceptional.
Support the nominee by participating in the official public voting process.
Vote here: https://wafricawards.com.ng/official-public-voting/
Read the voting procedures and criteria: https://wafricawards.com.ng/wafric-awards-2026-voting-procedures-and-criteria/
Public voting closes on 15 November 2026. Public votes contribute to the process but do not solely determine the winners. Final assessments also consider achievements, contributions and impact in accordance with the published criteria.
West African Citizens Awards 2026 — Recognizing the Unseen. Celebrating the Exceptional.