Journalistic Questioning in a Ghanaian Presidential Press Conference

Probing questions are a journalistic resource for seeking the right answers and for demanding public accountability from politicians. However, the study of journalistic questioning has received marginal attention in presidential communication especially in African cultures. The descriptive study examined linguistic forms of questions posed by journalists to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo at his first-ever press conference at the Jubilee House, the seat of government, following his electoral victory in the 2016 presidential elections. The press conference, which was posted on YouTube, was analysed, using content analysis. Based on media event theory and descriptive grammar model, the study showed that the journalists solicited information from the president by employing five basic forms of questions, namely, Wh-questions, alternative choice questions, inclusion preface questions, indirect questions and yes/no questions. The study revealed that these forms of questions were strategically by the journalists to probe the president's philosophy of governance, interrogate his government's agenda, and examine his vision for reviving the nation's economy.