Hitz FM’s Programmes Manager pokes EIB over Jon Germain, KOD exit

Mark Okraku-Mantey, Programmes Manager of Hitz FM, a subsidiary of Multimedia Group Limited has expressed worry over EIB’s loud silence on speculations about the exit of Jon Germain and Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) from the company.

The two who had been with the company in the past five years resigned from their positions at Starr FM – one of the brands under EIB – early this month. Their exit however courted controversy as it followed earlier claims that several others have left the media organisation after months of salary delays.

In the midst of the controversy, Peace FM presenter Kwasi Aboagye alleged on his show that both personalities were rather sacked for plotting a coup against Chief Executive Officer Bola Ray.

“The information I have is that, due to the salary issues at EIB, KOD and Jon Germain formed a group with other staff. The reason was to demonstrate over their salaries and someone took a screenshot. They were planning a coup against Bola Ray and the other leaders at EIB so it was during those discussions that someone took a screenshot and sent it to Bola Ray.”

“So, Bola decided to sack them after seeing the screenshots. They hurriedly came to announce their resignation before their sacking was announced. They were sacked,” he said on the Entertainment Review show.

Although speculations keep spreading like inferno, EIB is yet to comment - a posture Mr. Okraku-Mantey describes as unfair.

Speaking about the layoffs which has hit the media landscape on the same platform, Saturday, Okraku-Mantey who doubles as the President of the Creative Arts Council remarked that EIB should have cleared the air. He argued that the continuous silence of the managers of EIB leaves room for more speculations. These speculations, he said, could smear the reputation of the two astute on-air personalities.

“I think that the leadership of EIB should be out by now offering some explanations because these guys have been sacrificing enough for that business,” he said.

“I’m not sure Multimedia has such sacrificial value among its workers because even when salaries delay for just 5 days, people murmur. But we all know the number of months these people [EIB staff] stayed there without salaries. EIB must come back and not dent the young men’s brand with the coup tag. If you’re silent, then indirectly, it’s an endorsement of the coup rumour. Silence is an endorsement. But if it’s true there wasn’t any coup, then they’ve not treated these young men well.”

Okraku-Mantey further mentioned that, during his interaction with KOD, he could sense the renowned radio personality was habouring resentments, hence the need for EIB to do the needful.

He said: “Not everyone takes such things lightly. If care is not taken, you’ll be bitter. With Jon Germain, I could read a degree of frustration… They have sacrificed, so even if you’d part ways with them, this was not the way it should be. That is my only worry.”