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Afi DzakpasuMobile reporter,
Accra, Ghana
By OBED BOAFO
Radio N Tv
Radio N Tv
Ghana has a very young private radio industry. Long before earning the term 'industry', it was pretty much GBC's efforts on shortwave (GBC National Studios and GBC 2) that we were all tuned to. Then GBC received FM equipment from Germany and Radio G.A.R was born. It was a mono station, but it did just fine…doing the national capital some great deal of service by disseminating information, music, politics, etc.
A revolution of a sort was then needed to bridge the divide and make radio more accessible to the ordinary Ghanaian. Dr. Wreko Brobby's Radio Eye in Accra, Otec FM in Kumasi, Radio Universe, Joy FM, Sunshine Radio (now Choice FM), Radio Gold, Groove FM and in recent past, Peace FM, sum up the list of early entrants to the industry. This came with an equally good array of presenters who helped to drum home the wave the industry was experiencing, with their presentation skills and fair to good delivery.
Although generally a male dominated field, with the likes of Tommy Annan Forson, Gordon Avenorgbo (the grandmaster), Kofi Tsekpornu and Joe Lartey making their mark during the G.A.R era, Komla Dumor, Kwaku Sakyi Addo, Kofi Abokyi, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Paul Adom Otchere and a host of others were also raising the bar when private radio took shape, the industry saw a generation of female presenters who held their own against their male colleagues with names like Grace Omaboe and Maame Afia Konadu making true the ever popular saying, 'what a man can do, a woman can do it best'.
After the trail blazed by these female presenters, a legion of other young and vibrant group of presenters took the industry by storm. Adwoa Aidoo, Doreen Andoh, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Naa Adjorkor, Jessica Opare Saforo, Matilda Asante, Afia Pokua and Adwoa Yeboah Adjei continued to hold the fort until the likes of Aidoo and Shirley, found it expedient to try their hands on other things.
Every now and then, Accra wakes up to a new voice on its airwaves. If you are a keen follower of the industry, this is a trend you are very much familiar with. While some confirm the fears of many that they have come to add up to the numbers, others eventually prove their quality with time.
And what of Afi Dzakpasu…?
It's a bright warm evening at the Busua Beach Resort in Takoradi and as we walked in and out of the large gathering at the forecourt of the hotel looking for a suitable location for our interview, Afi is overwhelmed by the fact that she gets to be interviewed only a few days after joining Hitz FM. She was oblivious of the huge iconic status she has achieved in a relatively short time, and as I asked her if she doesn't feel bullied by the fact that the industry is mostly dominated by men, erudite and confident, she replied: "Well, I don't notice the male dominance as you say. I do what I got to do and move on. If there is a male dominance based on numbers, they are not really impressive. I mean, what is the difference between a male produced show and a female produced one?" She certainly knew what she was talking about as the industry is one she is familiar with.
Afi saw her seminal years as a media personality, doing voice over for some radio and television commercials and internet reporting for Voices of Africa Network- an online news network that provides web and mobile phone-based outlet for African journalists to engage in discussions about their continent and to report on events in their countries. She reported to the rest of Africa, on issues that had to do with gender, youth, health, social and development.
Knowing what she wanted, Afi was one of the numerous graduates who passed through the Ghana Institute of Journalism in August 2007 with a Diploma in Journalism. But that was not enough for her as she went further to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from the University Of Ghana.
She worked with telecommunications operator, Zain as a call centre attendant for three months doing Interactive Voice Response (IVR), an experience she says helped her a great deal. She was responsible for that voice – "the Zain number you are calling is either switched off or out of coverage area". At Zain, she said, "it was pretty much interacting with customers who had enquiries to make. It offered me the opportunity to know how to relate to people and this has helped me a lot in my present line of work."
Wilson Arthur's Skyy Digital TV was next in line for this former student of St. Mary's Senior High School as she spent the better part of 2008 at the Dworwulu Bureau of the station, reporting and news casting. She hosted a number of news items before finding her present location suitable enough to enhance her profile as a professional. "It was important for me to try out new things and for me I saw the Hitz FM platform as one that could help me grow hence the decision to leave Skyy TV".
Getting to do radio has come as a big opening for her as she hopes to use the platform to change some of the defects the industry faces. According to her, "radio is growing at a fast rate and unfortunately it is not necessarily translating into quality. I believe the market is ripe but we should concentrate on putting professionals and quality voices on air. Content producers should try as much as they can to be professional. In these times, we need creative, ingenious and willing entertainers who will not just follow the status quo…and that is all I am here for".
This she can help to make better in the days to come if her work as a content producer and presenter is well received by listeners and the management of Hitz FM who are bent on finding their feet among urban radio's best. The station, ever since it was acquired in 2004 from the then Radio Hitz, has undergone a lot of changes just to stay up there, for which reason the likes of Afi have been brought on board to steer affairs. An enormous task lies on her to live up to the billing, but Afi is a strong hearted person whose different shades of life's experiences, have taught her to stand up to the challenges, even when it seems her whole world is about to crush. "I believe in taking chances. Growing up has opened my eyes to a lot about life, such as constant decision making, learning from past mistakes and knowing the right type of people to move with".
In the coming days, Afi expects a lot more than the current prominence she is enjoying. "I expect a lot, including building for myself a career and to satisfy my unquenchable need - talking. I hope to add to the many that are doing a great work in broadcast programming and to the growing lists of popular radio presenters".
She is on radio all day presenting the Hitz Entertainment News (HEN) at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10 am (Nollywood updates), 2pm (Ghallywood updates) and 6pm for the Hollywood updates. She is upbeat about using the 2pm news platform, which talks about events in the local film industry to help shape its fortunes and an opportunity to amplify events and news concerning key stakeholders. "We want to give stakeholders in the film industry a platform to air their views on issues pertaining to the industry, unlike previous years where you couldn't hear much about them until an issue crops up".
December would be three months since she joined Kwesi Twum's Multimedia family- one that already has a history of producing some of the most spoken-of presenters in the capital and beyond. She has a lot of learning to do from the likes of Adwoa Aidoo of old and evergreen mistress Doreen Andoh who have already made their mark in radio and there is nothing more to prove. The journey between now and the day when her name becomes synonymous with quality – one that will make her the most listened female presenter in the capital and maybe beyond is quite far, but with hard work she can make it. It won't be easy though, as she would face stiffer opposition from a male grouping who never seem to be enthused about the sheer numbers they already wield.
Her rise to fame even at this stage has been quite meteoric and a fairytale. The other day, it was Afi, responding to calls from subscribers in a calm tone: "The number you've dialed is not correct", "The Zain customer you are calling is either switched off or out of coverage area" to "Hello, welcome to Skyy TV, my name is Afi Dzakpasu". Whoever gave Afi the chance to prove her mettle, would be proud to see her grow into that huge urban radio testament. It is pretty much simple asking for a slice of little and getting enough of everything.
A slice of radio may just be okay for Afi…
Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com Source: OBED BOAFO
A revolution of a sort was then needed to bridge the divide and make radio more accessible to the ordinary Ghanaian. Dr. Wreko Brobby's Radio Eye in Accra, Otec FM in Kumasi, Radio Universe, Joy FM, Sunshine Radio (now Choice FM), Radio Gold, Groove FM and in recent past, Peace FM, sum up the list of early entrants to the industry. This came with an equally good array of presenters who helped to drum home the wave the industry was experiencing, with their presentation skills and fair to good delivery.
Although generally a male dominated field, with the likes of Tommy Annan Forson, Gordon Avenorgbo (the grandmaster), Kofi Tsekpornu and Joe Lartey making their mark during the G.A.R era, Komla Dumor, Kwaku Sakyi Addo, Kofi Abokyi, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Paul Adom Otchere and a host of others were also raising the bar when private radio took shape, the industry saw a generation of female presenters who held their own against their male colleagues with names like Grace Omaboe and Maame Afia Konadu making true the ever popular saying, 'what a man can do, a woman can do it best'.
After the trail blazed by these female presenters, a legion of other young and vibrant group of presenters took the industry by storm. Adwoa Aidoo, Doreen Andoh, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Naa Adjorkor, Jessica Opare Saforo, Matilda Asante, Afia Pokua and Adwoa Yeboah Adjei continued to hold the fort until the likes of Aidoo and Shirley, found it expedient to try their hands on other things.
Every now and then, Accra wakes up to a new voice on its airwaves. If you are a keen follower of the industry, this is a trend you are very much familiar with. While some confirm the fears of many that they have come to add up to the numbers, others eventually prove their quality with time.
And what of Afi Dzakpasu…?
It's a bright warm evening at the Busua Beach Resort in Takoradi and as we walked in and out of the large gathering at the forecourt of the hotel looking for a suitable location for our interview, Afi is overwhelmed by the fact that she gets to be interviewed only a few days after joining Hitz FM. She was oblivious of the huge iconic status she has achieved in a relatively short time, and as I asked her if she doesn't feel bullied by the fact that the industry is mostly dominated by men, erudite and confident, she replied: "Well, I don't notice the male dominance as you say. I do what I got to do and move on. If there is a male dominance based on numbers, they are not really impressive. I mean, what is the difference between a male produced show and a female produced one?" She certainly knew what she was talking about as the industry is one she is familiar with.
Afi saw her seminal years as a media personality, doing voice over for some radio and television commercials and internet reporting for Voices of Africa Network- an online news network that provides web and mobile phone-based outlet for African journalists to engage in discussions about their continent and to report on events in their countries. She reported to the rest of Africa, on issues that had to do with gender, youth, health, social and development.
Knowing what she wanted, Afi was one of the numerous graduates who passed through the Ghana Institute of Journalism in August 2007 with a Diploma in Journalism. But that was not enough for her as she went further to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from the University Of Ghana.
She worked with telecommunications operator, Zain as a call centre attendant for three months doing Interactive Voice Response (IVR), an experience she says helped her a great deal. She was responsible for that voice – "the Zain number you are calling is either switched off or out of coverage area". At Zain, she said, "it was pretty much interacting with customers who had enquiries to make. It offered me the opportunity to know how to relate to people and this has helped me a lot in my present line of work."
Wilson Arthur's Skyy Digital TV was next in line for this former student of St. Mary's Senior High School as she spent the better part of 2008 at the Dworwulu Bureau of the station, reporting and news casting. She hosted a number of news items before finding her present location suitable enough to enhance her profile as a professional. "It was important for me to try out new things and for me I saw the Hitz FM platform as one that could help me grow hence the decision to leave Skyy TV".
Getting to do radio has come as a big opening for her as she hopes to use the platform to change some of the defects the industry faces. According to her, "radio is growing at a fast rate and unfortunately it is not necessarily translating into quality. I believe the market is ripe but we should concentrate on putting professionals and quality voices on air. Content producers should try as much as they can to be professional. In these times, we need creative, ingenious and willing entertainers who will not just follow the status quo…and that is all I am here for".
This she can help to make better in the days to come if her work as a content producer and presenter is well received by listeners and the management of Hitz FM who are bent on finding their feet among urban radio's best. The station, ever since it was acquired in 2004 from the then Radio Hitz, has undergone a lot of changes just to stay up there, for which reason the likes of Afi have been brought on board to steer affairs. An enormous task lies on her to live up to the billing, but Afi is a strong hearted person whose different shades of life's experiences, have taught her to stand up to the challenges, even when it seems her whole world is about to crush. "I believe in taking chances. Growing up has opened my eyes to a lot about life, such as constant decision making, learning from past mistakes and knowing the right type of people to move with".
In the coming days, Afi expects a lot more than the current prominence she is enjoying. "I expect a lot, including building for myself a career and to satisfy my unquenchable need - talking. I hope to add to the many that are doing a great work in broadcast programming and to the growing lists of popular radio presenters".
She is on radio all day presenting the Hitz Entertainment News (HEN) at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10 am (Nollywood updates), 2pm (Ghallywood updates) and 6pm for the Hollywood updates. She is upbeat about using the 2pm news platform, which talks about events in the local film industry to help shape its fortunes and an opportunity to amplify events and news concerning key stakeholders. "We want to give stakeholders in the film industry a platform to air their views on issues pertaining to the industry, unlike previous years where you couldn't hear much about them until an issue crops up".
December would be three months since she joined Kwesi Twum's Multimedia family- one that already has a history of producing some of the most spoken-of presenters in the capital and beyond. She has a lot of learning to do from the likes of Adwoa Aidoo of old and evergreen mistress Doreen Andoh who have already made their mark in radio and there is nothing more to prove. The journey between now and the day when her name becomes synonymous with quality – one that will make her the most listened female presenter in the capital and maybe beyond is quite far, but with hard work she can make it. It won't be easy though, as she would face stiffer opposition from a male grouping who never seem to be enthused about the sheer numbers they already wield.
Her rise to fame even at this stage has been quite meteoric and a fairytale. The other day, it was Afi, responding to calls from subscribers in a calm tone: "The number you've dialed is not correct", "The Zain customer you are calling is either switched off or out of coverage area" to "Hello, welcome to Skyy TV, my name is Afi Dzakpasu". Whoever gave Afi the chance to prove her mettle, would be proud to see her grow into that huge urban radio testament. It is pretty much simple asking for a slice of little and getting enough of everything.
A slice of radio may just be okay for Afi…
Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com Source: OBED BOAFO
Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia
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