Joy Prime presenter Justice Kpekpo Maxwell, popularly known as KMJ, has revealed that his first major breakthrough in radio came through an unexpected platform — Facebook.
“I got my first radio job through Facebook,” he disclosed.
Speaking on The Career Trail on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, KMJ recounted how years of unpaid hustle and consistent learning eventually paid off in the most surprising way.
He said his media journey began with shadowing radio presenters who doubled as DJs in Accra, despite not earning a pesewa. One of the personalities he worked closely with was DJ Willie, then host of Drive Time on Top Radio.
“I used to carry their CDs on my head and follow them everywhere they went. At the time, DJ Willie was hosting Drive Time on Top Radio. I was like a CD boy and also acted as a producer. I would carry his bag, go to the studio with him, help set up, and then we’d move from one pub to another because he had gigs almost every night,” he shared.
Although many saw him as a background assistant, KMJ was quietly documenting his experiences. He began sharing event updates and behind-the-scenes content on his Facebook page.
“When I was doing all these, I was posting them on social media. Back in 2011, social media was still new, and everyone was just doing their own thing. So I would attend events and post what happened,” he explained.
Eventually, a message landed in his inbox that changed everything.
“There was this man, Oliver Desbordes, who sent me a message via inbox saying he loved what I was doing. He said, ‘I have a new radio station coming up. If you don’t mind, I want you to be part of the team.’”
Initially skeptical, KMJ assumed it was a scam.
“I thought it was a scam, so I told him, ‘I don’t believe this is true. If it is, prove it.’ So he sent me his number. But for a whole week, I didn’t call because I was scared my phone might be hacked.”
The man followed up a week later, prompting KMJ to finally respond.
“He said, ‘You still haven’t called. Can you leave your number?’ So I dropped my number. Then he called and asked to meet at Accra Mall. He introduced himself as a boss at a radio station in Koforidua and said he wanted me to join his team. I told him I hadn’t done radio before, but he said he saw something in me.”
Still unsure about relocating to Koforidua, KMJ asked for more time. When they met again weeks later, the man brought a draft of a Drive Time show designed specifically for him.
“I was amazed and confused at the same time, but eventually, I accepted the offer.”
When he arrived in Koforidua, the station — Vision FM — was still in its test transmission phase. But just days later, KMJ became the first official voice on air.
“They had done test transmission. They had not even started programming. On Monday, I was the first person that opened the station. We didn’t even start with the Morning Show. I remember my intro so well. I said, ‘Good evening to the capital and everyone doing the listening. My name is African Baby. I am the African boy that you’ve been waiting for all this while here in the capital. I get to drive you all the way to 7 p.m. Why don’t you be my guest?’”
KMJ said his presence was immediately felt, and he quickly became a listener favorite.
“I became a favourite. Everyone was talking about me — even market women, who on a regular day wouldn’t listen to Drive Time. Eventually, I rose to become the Programs Manager of Vision FM.”
He expressed deep gratitude to the late owner of Vision FM, crediting him for believing in his potential.
“He is late now. May God rest his soul. He believed in me and did so much for me. I had never seen anyone do so much for people like that.”
KMJ encouraged young people to always prepare for opportunities.
“Be prepared enough even before an opportunity comes. Imagine if I had not prepared and I messed up, I wouldn’t be here today. So it’s always the preparation before the opportunities even come.”
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