Happy FM Woos Sekyere Boateng, Others

With the challenge of taking up new roles in higher capacities as the bait, Happy FM has been able to woo top presenters in Ghana's now very competitive radio industry.

As such, Happy FM, the latest radio station in the city of Accra, which commenced test transmission in the middle of last month, has began causing jitters in many circles.

Top presenters who have been snatched into Happy FM's fold include veteran prolific Akan presenter, Sekyere [Propro] Boateng, who was formerly with Achimota based Peace FM, Mikki Osei Berko, formerly of Radio Gold and Olivia Nana Abakoma Prempeh, previously with Tema based Adom FM, whose story appeared in last week Thursday's issue of The Independent.

Also roped in, The Independent can confirm, is Emmanuel Akromah, who used to be with the archives department of JOY FM. Our findings indicate that he had a lot to do with the success of JOY FM's morning show.

Specifically, Akromah is on record to have contributed immensely to the success of morning shows hosted by Komla Dumor, one of his former station's celebrated presenters.

Divulging to The Independent in an interview last Friday, July 18 2003 his reason for leaving Peace FM, Sekyere Boateng, who is now General Manager of Happy FM commenced thus: "It is better to take risks than not to take risks." Continuing that it was that same drive that took him from GBC 1 to Garden City Radio and Peace FM where he worked for three years [2000 - 2003], the veteran broadcaster said his switching to Happy FM was to afford him the chance to change the face of radio.

Disclosing how he was going to do that, Sekyere Boateng said as radio has become very powerful, he was going to use his new position to push up the sinking image of the Ghanaian culture, effectively link up various categories of people seeking one thing or the other and also use the medium to fight against diseases and social issues like the degradation of the environment.

He also envisaged that his new role would enable him have time to come up with far-reaching ideas and also afford him time to pursue a huge role he has been assigned at his church [more on this in subsequent issues].

Sounding philosophical, Sekyere Boateng opined that the best-educated person is one whose education helps his people, adding, "If it had been money and prestige I would have stayed on at Peace FM, as they were prepared to give me all I needed.

He disclosed that he has experienced men and women from the School of Linguistics and other places who are going to help him do a good job.

On his part, Mikki Osei Berko, presenter and Assemblyman for the Aryeediki Electoral Area, intimated to The Independent that his leaving Radio Gold was because "I felt I had learnt so much from the station and so wanted to pick up a bigger challenge."

"Going philosophical he said, "The keener the competition the better radio becomes." Mikki also opined that his exit at his former station would afford other presenters the opportunity to come up.

He also divulged that in his new role as Events and Promotions Manager in charge of programmes as well as presenter, he was going to partner another presenter to come up with a morning show with a difference.

He indicated that he was pleased he was going to do a morning show, which would be a shift from the late afternoon shows he was presenting at his former station, as it would be a totally new experience for him.

Saying that the knowledge he has acquired would play a role in the entire policy framework of the station, Mikki Osei hoped he would be able to make Happy FM become the number one station and thus justify his leaving Radio Gold.

He concluded, "I believe Happy FM would take over radio in Accra and as far as we can reach," adding "We have all the ingredients, which is a recipe for success."

Coming up in Independent's subsequent issues is more about Mikki, what he is doing at the moment, why he became an Assemblyman and about Kokonsa. Book your copies in advance.