I used to be a 'shoeshine boy' on Legon campus - Francis Doku

A pen might be mightier than a sword, but that will only depend on who possesses and uses the pen. A pen in your hands could probably just be a tool for leaving ink stains on a paper. But a pen in Francis Doku’s hands can sometimes send shivers down the spines of some top profile personalities in Ghana.

Noted as one of the finest bloggers the country has produced in recent times, it appears that the writing ink for the columnist of Graphic Showbiz, Francis Doku, is far from running dry. Continually, the man who has established himself as ‘Gh’s Media Guru’ sweeps us off our feet with his impeccable write ups which usually centre on Entertainment, Sports and anything he feels worth writing. Call him the ‘Don’ of Ghana’s entertainment and you’ll not be far from being right. As Group CEO of the Rave Group, Francis exhibits his managerial skills aside writing captivating articles.

Interestingly, Francis Doku, the Gh Media Guru’s journey to this great feat was not all rosy and exciting. On Saturday morning when he joined Real Eugene on The Big Exclusive Show on Radio Univers, Francis Doku revealed that he had to manoeuvre his way into the various halls on the University of Ghana campus with some friends to polish shoes in a bid to make some money.

The CEO of Rave Group, who lost his father at the age of 18, had to support himself financially while growing up. This, he said pushed him and some other friends into the ‘shoeshine’ business.

"…we had plastic bags and we put our polish, brush and tools in it as if we’ve been sent to buy something…then we smuggle ourselves in (the halls). We had our customers and all. I did that…and it was an experience".

Francis Doku, who did not shy away from his humble beginnings, stated that his work as a ‘shoeshine’ boy was an experience he’ll forever cherish. He also disclosed that through his interactions with some students on campus while polishing shoes, he was motivated to apply and he gained admission into the University of Ghana.

"…some guys were at Akuafo Hall…I used to go to them and they used to interact with me… They encouraged me a lot. I must say, it was on that basis that I eventually decided that this was what I wanted to do. That encouraged me to come to the University."

After working on the University of Ghana campus for some time by going around and polishing the shoes of students, Francis decided to use his ‘A-Level’ certificate to apply to the University of Ghana where he was eventually admitted into Level 300. Though he read Administration with Banking and Finance option, Gh Media Guru did not miss any opportunity to write about happenings in the entertainment world.

Obviously, Francis’ love for reading and writing did not begin yesterday. He recalled how he used to spend his pocket money on newspapers.

‘I used to use my lunch money to buy all the sports newspapers on Monday.’

When asked about what attracted him to the world of blogging, Francis responded by saying that he had so much interest in writing about personalities on television and radio. He liked to critic their actions and inactions as well.

Inspired by writings of Kwaku Sakyi Addo, formerly of the BBC, Nanabanyin Dadson, one time editor of Graphic Showbiz and a host of others, Francis pursued his journalistic dreams with much passion and hard work.

His dedication towards work, organized thoughts and excellent articulation of facts have seen him being applauded by many. Not long ago, the South African Tourism Board invited him for a tour of South Africa in a bid to promote South Africa’s breathtaking tourist sites to the rest of the world.