Staff abandon Multimedia for new Vision 1 FM

Multimedia, one of Ghana’s biggest media conglomerates is set to lose more of its key media staff to newly-born Vision 1 FM just some few months after heavyweights such as Kwabena Anokye Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray, Nii Ayi Tagoe, Paa Kwesi Asare and Sammy Darko left the company for Starr fm.
According to a deep throat source, Vision 1 FM, which transmits on the frequency 93.5MHz has acquired plush houses and cars among other juicy packages difficult to turn down for the media big names when it begins full operation in a couple of weeks.
So far, about 10 names of top Radio and TV personalities have been speculated to be joining the new Vision 1 FM from rival media establishments. Out of the number, 5 are from various arms under the Multimedia Group. Others are from Okay FM, Hot FM and Angel FM in Kumasi.
Kwabena Kyenkyenhene Boateng, popularly known as Bra Chef we understand is among the top names leaving the Multimedia Group. Bra Chef who joined Joy News earlier this year from Radio Univers 105.7MHz where he is credited to have elevated the station’s mid-morning show ‘Brunch2Lunch’, declined to comment on the issue when contacted, however, our investigations have revealed that the young promising media chap is close to clinching the deal with his soon-to-be employers although the details of contract cannot be confirmed.
Also from Joy News is Prince Minkah who is said to have already handed in his resignation en route his new pay masters. Other names from the Multimedia brand expected to join Vision 1 FM include Joy FM’s Kwakye Afreh Nuamah and Asempa FM’s Kofi Asare Brako popularly known as Abatey.
The movement of these personalities doesn’t come as a surprise to many as their eloquence and flair on the job cannot be disputed, however, the choice of newborn Vision 1 fm to poach ‘already-made’ stars from big media establishments seem interesting.
Poaching as a phenomenon that sometimes sprouts jitters among many media owners is not new in the country’s media landscape as examples such as Sekyere Boateng leaving Peace FM for Happy FM, Adakabre Frimpong Manso from Adom FM to Despite Group’s Neat FM, Abeiku Santana also from Adom FM to Okay FM and so on are still fresh on the minds of many.
Other names such as Peace FM’s Chairman-General Kwami Sefa Kayi, Fiifi Banson as well as Billy Ocean, Okay FM’s Odi Ahinkan and Kwame Amu have all been beneficiaries of this act of poaching that has spurred a lot of competition among the various media houses in the country.
Vision 1 FM is currently test transmitting from its newly constructed office space located opposite Saint John’s Grammar Senior High School at Mile 7 in Accra and is expected to commence full scale business before December. The station is also said to be finalizing arrangements to host their television station, Light TV also by the close of year.
It will be interesting to note what kind of rivalry the decision to poach already made stars may bring to the table and much more interestingly, how the station will manage to sustain the huge listenership it has gained over the past couple of months since it started its test transmission.
Backed by financial power from Kumasi based CEO of the Unity Group of Companies, Dr Kwame Kyei, urban radio just got a lot more interesting as Multimedia Group Ltd is not likely to go down without a fight. As to whether the “new money” will be able to overcome the experience and stature built by Multimedia & Co over the past years, time alone will tell.