Until his demise, he still calls me ‘DeeJay Herbal’. It is one of the numerous nicknames given to me by my compatriots who have worked with me, but he decided to stick ‘DeeJay Herbal’.
At exactly 2pm, Monday to Friday, between 2008 and 2011, while I am signing off to make way for Ekosii Sen after interviewing herbalist on Asempa 94.7FM, KABA would join me on air live in a jovial way as, ‘DeeJay, se wagye ahye wo ho’, I will then respond with a laughter, then KABA would come in and say, ‘Deejay, ka nokroe, wagye ahye wo ho’, then he would shout, ‘Deejay Herbal’ then we shall begin talking about the day’s menu for the show.
He kept calling me with such nickname, shelving my real name on radio and in the media, Kweku Antwi-Otoo, as far as he is concern.
Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) as I know and worked with from the year 2008 to the year 2011 before I left Multi Media Group, was a dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that what has been assigned to him to done and done well.
I met KABA is a strange but hilarious way but before I talk about his personality, let me take the opportunity to share with you how I and other workers of Multi Media met KABA.
It was at the University of Ghana, Legon in December 2007 when the “nineteen thieves” of the then ruling government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), converged at Legon to chose the flagbearer for the 2008 elections. In fact, the “nineteen thieves” is not coming from me. It was given to then nineteen aspirants of the NPP by the General Secretary of now opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
I joined Multi Media in July 2007 with Asempa FM and our first major outdoor assignment was the coverage of that congress to elect the flagbearer. It was because the former President, John Agyekum Kufour, had served two-four year terms and as such the NPP needed a new person to lead the party for the 2008 general elections.
I was then assistant News Editor to Jerry Tsatro Mordy. Kojo Preko Dankwa of now EIB was the Head of Productions. Mr. Von Klous Bukusitin was the Chief Operating Officer for Asempa FM. Nana Apeanti was the Programmes Manager.
Von, as we all call him, assembled the team to cover the maiden outdoor event of Asempa which had hit the airwaves not quit long. The team was made up of myself, Jerry Tsatro Mordy, Kojo Preko Dankwa and Dominic Kissi Yeboah, the late KABA’s producer, who was then doing his internship.
We applied for accreditations from the NPP headquarters for all the team members including drivers who would be bringing the team food, water and other logistics but in the final day, I, Kweku Antwi-Otoo, was the only person who got the accreditation to cover the event.
In fact, it was a disappointing and tough for the team but Von pushed us to cover the event and prove to the world we can do despite the odds.
Nevertheless, that did not deter us from given our audience what they needed from the congress grounds.
It was tedious for me because I was the only one who was moving around since I was the only one who had accreditation.
Security was tight and if they see you without accreditation, you would be thrown out. The team managed to enter into the Commonwealth Hall of the University on Friday and it run throughout the Saturday until Sunday.
Let me take the opportunity to state that, according to the history of Multi Media, the Chief Executive Officer, Kwasi Twum (KT), has never written to congratulate any member or a team for putting up a performance but he did so after the coverage of the congress at Legon. This was because, we [Asempa FM Team] was new to the Multi Media Group, but the performance the team put out them was superb.
While at Legon, KABA, who was then working with the then Top Radio, now Top FM, also in Accra, had pitched camp on the right side of Asempa set up at the grounds.
Interestingly, KABA was a jack of all trade at the venue. He was the technician, sound engineer, presenter, producer, just to mention few. So what we [Asempa Team] decided to do was, to feed him with guests that have passed through our station to also enrich his content.
He covered the entire congress solely without the support of the staff.
So on Sunday when the team was about to leave the venue, my then Editor, Jerry Tsatro Mordy, came to me and said, Kweku, have you seen the Top Radio guy, he said he would want to join the team, what do you think.
I told my then Editor it is good because I had realized he was hard working, covering the entire congress alone. He discussed same with Kojo Preko who also gave the same sentiment. Jerry therefore asked me to exchange contact number with KABA so we could contact him when we get to the office and I obliged.
That was how it all started. He kept coming to the office [Asempa FM] to follow up and we (I, Jerry and Preko) kept assuring him of the chance while we push our ‘big men’ to consider him.
Finally, KABA joined the Asemoa team in 2008 as a news anchor. He was initially paired with Afia Amankwaa Tamakloe for Asempa News at 2pm and it was superb. He was also the sit in for the main host of Ekosii Sen, Nana Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, until finally, Bobbie left the huge seat for KABA. Many were skeptical as to whether he could fill in the shoes of Bobbie when Bobbie bowed out, but KABA proved to the world that he was more than fit for the post.
Now to the man KABA I know and work with. He was dedicated. He reads a lot. He does not complain even though we had challenges in production at a point in time as it happens in every media house. Ready to learn. Ready to correct. Sound authoritative. On top of his job. Exhibits professionalism. He was all round. Affable.
In fact, even though I have been out of Multi Media since 2011, KABA has been my target anywhere I go, even though I am not a presenter. I always push my host(s) to aspire to either beat or catch up with KABA and I am sure everyone I have produced would attest to this.
The news of his demise devastated me. In fact, I stopped breathing for a while until I realized I was driving so I had to control myself and get home safe. Yes, I drove home safe, but not of myself. Drivers kept blowing horns on me while driving because I lost concentration ever since I heard the sudden demise.
Yiee, asem ben nie. I checked my whatsaap status and almost everyone on my contact was using the image of KABA. Thousands of whatsapp messages on my phone. Some wants confirmation or otherwise. Others needed clarifications on what actually transpired. What is happening to the media in Ghana? What have we done? What did KABA do? God, why? What have we done? This is unbearable. Death is inevitable but God, such death should have been pardoned. We needed such creature alive. We needed him to help shape the media industry. But you know best. No human can challenge your decisions and authority so if it is your will, then thy will be done. KABA will forever remain in our hearts and we know he will also remain in Your Heart, God.
The greatest writer William Shakespeare in his “King Henry VI, Part I”, described death as “‘What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!”. KABA’s death is ugly in our sight, but the same Shakespeare in his “Hamlet” said “On pain of death, no person be so bold”.
What I ask for, oh God, is total protection for the widow and the daughter he left behind.
Damirefa Due, KABA!
Damirefa Due, KABA!!
Damirefa Due, KABA!!!
The writer is an Editor/Producer at Media General Group [Onua 95.1FM/TV3 New Day]
