Afua Hagan: The Glasgow-Born Journalist Making Her Mark on British Broadcasting
From magazine editing and television presenting to royal commentary, discover the career, education, Ghanaian roots, and personal story of Afua Hagan.
Introduction
Afua Hagan is a British journalist, television presenter, royal commentator, and public speaker. She has worked across major television networks, magazines, and international news organisations.
Her career has taken many turns.
She started behind the camera. Then came magazine journalism, television presenting, and royal reporting. Today, she is known for discussing the British Royal Family, current affairs, and representation in the media.
But there is more to her story.
Born in Scotland and raised in Glasgow, she moved to London as a teenager to study journalism. Her professional journey eventually took her from entertainment television to international broadcasting.
Here is what we know about her background, education, career, achievements, and personal life.
Quick Facts About Afua Hagan
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Afua Hagan |
| Also Known As | Afua Adom |
| Birthplace | Scotland |
| Raised In | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Heritage | Ghanaian |
| Profession | Journalist, Broadcaster, Presenter, Royal Commentator |
| Education | City University London |
| Field of Study | Journalism |
| Known For | Royal commentary, television journalism, public speaking |
| Former Editorial Roles | Glam Africa, Pride, Blackhair |
| Broadcasting Experience | BBC, ITV, Sky News, CNN, CNBC, Arise News |
| Reported Current Roles | CTV News Royal Commentator, News Central International Correspondent |
| Other Work | Managing Editor, Black Business Magazine |
| Public Speaking | TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, event moderator |
| Children | One daughter publicly mentioned |
| Exact Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Not reliably confirmed |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Early Life and Family Background
Afua was born in Scotland and grew up in Glasgow.
Her family has roots in Ghana. This connection has remained an important part of her public identity and professional interests.
Growing up as a Black Scottish girl shaped how she understood race, culture, and belonging. She has since spoken about the challenges of representation in British media.
Her childhood also gave her an interest in storytelling.
She wanted a media career.
That ambition eventually took her away from Glasgow and into one of Britain’s busiest broadcasting centres.
Although she has discussed her upbringing publicly, detailed information about her parents, siblings, and early family life has not been reliably documented.
Education and Journalism Studies
At just 17, she moved from Glasgow to London.
She enrolled at City University London, where she studied journalism with an interest in broadcasting and music.
London offered new opportunities.
She could learn about the industry while building connections in television and entertainment.
Her educational background helped prepare her for different kinds of media work. She would eventually write for magazines, produce programmes, present news, and appear as a commentator.
The exact title of her degree has not been independently confirmed through an official university record.
How Her Professional Career Started
Her first jobs were not all in front of the camera.
She worked on television productions including T4 and Popworld, two programmes associated with British youth culture and entertainment.
She also worked on ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover.
These roles gave her experience in television production and the practical work involved in making programmes.
Still, her interests went further.
She later joined Blue Mountain Music, working in music publishing with Chris Blackwell.
The move made sense.
Music and entertainment had already been part of her studies and early professional interests. Working in publishing gave her another view of the creative business.
But writing remained a strong interest.
That eventually led her into magazines.
Building a Career in Magazine Journalism
Afua joined Blackhair magazine as an editorial assistant.
She moved up quickly.
According to her professional biography, she became editor within approximately one year.
It was an important change.
She was no longer simply learning how a publication worked. She was helping decide what stories should appear and how they should be presented.
She later became features editor at Pride magazine, a publication covering Black British culture, lifestyle, entertainment, and public affairs.
Another senior role followed.
She served as editor-in-chief of Glam Africa magazine.
Her magazine career helped build her experience in interviewing, editing, writing, and managing editorial content.
She also wrote a column for The Voice newspaper.
These positions established her background as a journalist long before royal commentary became one of her best-known areas of work.
Moving Into News Broadcasting
Magazine journalism was only one part of her career.
She also worked as a television news anchor and producer for Arise News.
The role gave her experience in presenting current affairs to an international audience.
She later worked at ABN TV.
There, she produced and presented Young & Rising. She was also involved in launching Entertainment Weekly.
Her work continued across different subjects.
Some programmes focused on news. Others covered business, music, or entertainment.
This variety became a familiar feature of her career.
She also hosted Sustainable Energy for CNBC, covering energy-related issues.
For radio audiences, she presented The A-List on The Beat 103.6FM.
Her interest in African music, especially Afrobeats, appeared in that work.
Television Appearances and Media Recognition
Over the years, she has appeared on numerous British and international television programmes.
Her professional biographies list appearances on:
- ITV’s This Morning
- Good Morning Britain
- Jeremy Vine on Channel 5
- BBC programmes
- Sky News
- CNN
- STV
- LBC
- Times Radio
- TalkTV
She has discussed cultural issues, public affairs, royal news, and social questions.
Her broadcasting background covers several formats.
A studio discussion needs different skills from a news report. A live interview presents different challenges from a recorded programme.
Her career has included experience in all these areas.
Becoming a Royal Commentator
Royal reporting became one of her recognised specialities.
She has provided commentary on the British Royal Family for UK and international media organisations.
Her work has included appearances on TalkTV, where she contributed to The Talk and hosted The Royal Tea.
She has also worked as a royal commentator for CTV News in Canada.
Her coverage discusses the monarchy, major royal events, and the public lives of senior royal figures.
People often want context.
Why does a royal visit matter? What does a public statement mean? How does the monarchy respond to changing expectations?
These are the kinds of questions discussed in royal news coverage.
Her work brings together her broadcasting experience and her interest in public affairs.
It is also important to understand her position.
As a commentator, she offers analysis and opinion on royal developments. Her commentary should not be confused with official statements from Buckingham Palace or individual members of the Royal Family.
Professional Work and Responsibilities in 2026
As of October 2026, professional profiles list her as a royal commentator for CTV News Canada and senior international correspondent for News Central Africa.
She is also identified as managing editor of Black Business Magazine.
Another project is 50 Questions with Afua Hagan, which she created and hosts.
Her professional biography also identifies her as host of The Royal Dress Code podcast.
These responsibilities reflect her continued involvement in journalism, business, international affairs, and public discussion.
She remains active as a speaker and event moderator.
Her work is not limited to television studios. It also includes conferences and public conversations about leadership, media, and social opportunity.
Her TEDx Talk on Race and Television
One of her most personal public appearances came through TEDx.
In 2024, she delivered a talk titled Too Dark for Daytime TV.
The subject was deeply connected to her experiences.
She discussed being told by someone in the television industry that her skin was too dark for daytime television.
That experience raised difficult questions.
Who gets chosen to appear on screen? How do beauty standards affect hiring? And why can people feel pressured to change themselves to fit an industry?
She spoke about race, identity, representation, and belonging.
Rather than limiting the discussion to one experience, her talk addressed wider problems faced by Black professionals in media.
The presentation can be found through the official TEDx Talks channel on YouTube.
Work as a Public Speaker
Broadcasting is not her only professional activity.
She is also a keynote speaker, moderator, and event host.
Her speaking subjects include social mobility, diversity, equality, women’s leadership, representation, and workplace opportunity.
She uses experiences from her career to explain how personal background can affect access to professional opportunities.
Her speaker profiles list engagements with organisations including the NHS, HSBC, Retail Week, Inmarsat, Compare the Market, and Cambridgeshire Police.
Her work at events often involves interviews, panel discussions, and conversations with business or community leaders.
The subjects can be serious.
Still, her background in live broadcasting helps her handle public discussions and different viewpoints.
Ghanaian Roots and Charity Work
Her Ghanaian heritage remains an important part of her public work.
On 21 January 2026, Opportunity International UK announced that she had become an ambassador for the organisation.
The charity works with people facing poverty and supports access to financial services, training, and economic opportunities.
Her involvement followed a visit to Ghana in November 2025.
During that visit, she met people who had received support through the organisation’s programmes.
Their stories showed how practical training and financial access can help people start businesses and support their families.
She later presented a BBC Radio 4 Appeal for Opportunity International UK in May 2026.
The appeal told the story of Amama, a mother from Ghana who had received support through a training programme.
This work added a charitable role to her established career in broadcasting and public speaking.
Awards and Professional Achievements
Afua has received recognition for her work in broadcasting.
Her professional speaker biographies report an honour from the Black Women in Business Awards.
They also refer to recognition connected with the Women4Africa Awards.
Her career achievements include serving as editor-in-chief of Glam Africa, presenting television and radio programmes, working in international news, and delivering a TEDx talk.
Her charitable ambassador appointment in 2026 added another publicly documented responsibility.
Specific award categories and winning years are not consistently identified in the available records, so those details should not be presented as confirmed.
Husband, Marriage and Personal Life
Many readers are curious about her life outside journalism.
But public information is limited.
Her professional profiles mention that she has a daughter. She has also spoken about enjoying activities with her child.
She has been associated professionally with the name Afua Adom.
However, publicly available information does not reliably establish her current marital status or the identity of a husband.
There is no confirmed wedding date to report.
Her private family details should remain private unless she chooses to share them publicly.
Her Interests Outside Work
Her speaker biographies offer a small glimpse into her everyday interests.
She enjoys reading crime novels.
She has also been described as liking manicures, spending time with her daughter, and following basketball.
Music is another familiar interest.
Her earlier radio career included presenting a show connected with contemporary African music.
These details offer a picture of her interests beyond newsrooms and television studios.
Age, Birthday and Net Worth
Her exact date of birth has not been reliably confirmed.
For that reason, it would be misleading to publish a specific birthday or state her exact age in 2026.
Her university history and early career provide some context, but they do not establish a verified birth year.
The same applies to her financial information.
No reliable public record establishes her personal net worth or annual salary.
Broadcasters, writers, and speakers may earn money through different kinds of work, but those opportunities do not establish an individual’s income.
Any unsupported estimate would simply be a guess.
Why Her Journalism Career Stands Out
Her career has not followed one straight route.
She started in entertainment production, worked in music publishing, built a magazine career, and later moved into broadcast news.
Each role required different skills.
She learned how programmes are made. She worked with writers and editors. She presented news and spoke to television audiences.
Her royal commentary then brought her into another area of public discussion.
What connects these jobs?
A background in communication, journalism, and storytelling.
She has also used her public platform to discuss race and professional representation.
Her TEDx talk gives an especially direct account of those experiences.
Final Thought
Afua Hagan has spent years working across different parts of the media industry.
Her story begins in Glasgow, moves through journalism studies in London, and continues across magazines, television, radio, and international news.
She has worked behind the camera and in front of it.
Today, her publicly reported roles include royal commentary, international correspondence, editorial work, and speaking engagements.
Her work with Opportunity International UK also shows her involvement in charitable causes connected with her Ghanaian heritage.
There are still personal details that are not publicly confirmed.
What is clear, though, is the breadth of her professional experience and the public record of her work.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Afua Hagan?
Afua Hagan is a British journalist, television presenter, royal commentator, and public speaker. She has worked with several British and international broadcasters.
2. Where was she born?
She was born in Scotland and raised in Glasgow. She has Ghanaian family roots.
3. Where did she study?
She studied journalism at City University London after moving to London at the age of 17.
4. How old is she?
Her exact date of birth is not reliably documented, so her precise age in 2026 cannot be confirmed.
5. Is Afua Hagan married?
Her current marital status has not been established through reliable public information.
6. Does she have children?
Yes. Her public professional biographies mention a daughter, but detailed information about her child is not included.
7. What television programmes has she appeared on?
Her credited appearances include This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Jeremy Vine, and programmes on the BBC, Sky News, CNN, and TalkTV.
8. What is her net worth?
There is no reliable public estimate of her personal net worth or confirmed salary.
