Profile:Kojo Oppong Nkrumah — Broadcaster with a gift of the gab

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah — Broadcaster with a gift of the gab

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

It was a normal day at work, having hosted arguably the highest-rated morning show in Ghana, and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was changing gear to attend to other important activities.

He had successfully anchored Super Morning Show, Joy FM’s flagship programme and stirred hot national debate on socio-political issues before leaving the studio. And whatever the topic under discussion is — politics, economics, crime, sports — Kojo handles it with passion and little ease.

Despite having no formal training in broadcasting like his contemporaries, Kojo’s reputation as one of the country’s leading broadcasters and quickly fitting into the huge shoes of Komla Dumor (who moved on from Multimedia Broadcasting Limited for a top job at Bush House in London) is ample proof that the 28-year-old man has a gift of the gab.

Kojo hits the airwaves just after the 6.00 a.m. news when others are preparing for work or taking their shower to start the day, but his day actually starts two hours earlier when he prepares to leave home for work — when you and I are snoozing and turning in bed.

He does not have the commanding baritone voice of his predecessor Komla, but Kojo gets discerning listeners to sit up and listen to him. And his dexterity in handling various topics and engaging listeners on social, economic and political issues, his choice of music and sense of humour is beguiling.

Kojo displays a high sense of neutrality and hardly displays his bias during discussions except for issues involving Manchester United where his liking for the English premiership champions is open secret.

The dark and handsome gentleman is always fired up with energy and seems to have bigger ambitions beyond broadcasting. He told The Mirror in an interview at Joy FM’s Kokomlemle office that his greatest motivation in broadcasting is to impact massively to his community to last the next generation.

Famed for his eyes for raw talent who later develop into stars, Multimedia Broadcasting CEO, Mr Kwesi Twum, spotted Kojo while doing a presentation five years ago after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Communication. Impressed with Kojo’s suave performance, Mr Twum knew he had found a suitable replacement for the departing Komla Dumor and immediately requested that Kojo joined the Joy FM family as an intern to which he obliged.

“In fact, I didn’t know the rudiments of broadcasting however, I was taught a lot of things by some of my senior colleagues on daily basis. Consequently, I found broadcasting very exciting and challenging,” he told The Mirror. 

Kojo has since executed various tasks in the newsroom. However, the exit of Kobla Dumor to the BBC gave Kojo the needed opportunity to prove his qualities, and he never disappointed Mr Twum and all those who believed in him.

Rising to the top at Joy FM takes not just talent but a lot of hard work, and Kojo invests a lot into making his programme relevant to society and discerning listeners. 

As one of the “eligible bachelors” around, his day begins quietly and lonely at 4:00 a.m. when he rises from bed. After musing over some of the previous day’s activities, he gets ready and drives to the office by 5:00 a.m. Before sitting behind the console to go on air after the 6:00 a.m. news on weekdays, Kojo and his production team meet to discuss pertinent issues to be thrashed out and the appropriate music to be played on the show. 

“The team must certify that the programme is appealing to the business community, politicians, families and individuals,” he says.

Beyond broadcasting, Kojo provides marketing service advice to corporate bodies and individuals who need his services. Beaming with smiles, he disclosed that his future ambition is to establish his own organisation to provide world-class marketing services for potential clients. He seems prepared for the future having just completed a Master’s programme in marketing at the University of Ghana.

Born on April 5, 1982 to Mr Kwame Oppong Nkrumah, the Head of Treasury of the National Investment Bank, and Mrs Felicia Oppong Nkrumah, a teacher, Kojo hails from Abora Aboase near Saltpond in the Central Region and is the first of three children. 

He started his early education at the Pentecost Preparatory School at Koforidua in the Eastern Region and later moved with his mother to continue his basic education at the St Bernadette’s Soubirous at Dansoman. After sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), he gained admission to the Pope John Secondary in Koforidua and ended at the University of Cape Coast for his first degree.

For Kojo, one person who has impacted appreciably on his life is his dad, whom he and his siblings secretly call “Killer” for his strictness and high sense of discipline at home.

Interestingly, Kojo whose favourite colour is blue, admits he has no culinary skills but enjoys eating jollof rice with beef sauce. When he is not on air or selling out marketing services to people he likes to cool off in his bed.

“I like my sleep a lot because I wake up very early each day to work. But I love to watch movies. Movies which are centred on law, politics and Mafia thrill me. However, watching my favourite team Manchester United play gives me a kick each times,” he laughed. 

Hurray! — 2010 BECE over

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

The curtain on the 2010 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE 2010) was brought down on Friday, April 23, 2010, throughout the country.

This year’s candidates had to go through less stress to write the examination as the time-table was made flexible, which showed in their composure after each paper each day.

For those who did not register for the Ghanaian Language and French, the examination was over for them when they  completed the Basic Design and Technology Paper Two on Thursday morning.

According to some of them, they had no French teachers and, therefore, did not register for  French. Those who did not write both French and Ghanaian Language registered for only five subjects out of the seven subjects which were written this year.

This means that those with five subjects wrote just one elective subject and may have to compete with those who wrote all the seven subjects for admission to the senior high school (SHS). 

On Friday afternoon, between 12 :15p.m. and 1:30p.m, candidates from some of the public and private schools in Accra were spotted by the Junior Graphic gleefully singing and dancing at the Labone Senior High School centre.

At 12:15pm when the bell of the French Two was rung, some of the candidates from Holy Star Academy were seen pouring talcum powder on their heads, signifying a graceful completion of one educational level. 

At the St Joseph’s JHS centre at Adabraka, some of the candidates who could not believe they were really done with the examination decided to pour water on themselves and were screaming all over in excitement.

Unfortunately, some of their colleagues from the Liberty Avenue and Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary (GLISS) JHS could not join the fun as they had to return  to their schools the desks which they carried to the centre for the examination.

At the Aquinas Senior High School centre, students from the Yahousua JHS and SDA JHS were seen in their beautiful year group T-shirts which had their names printed on them.

 In all, 350,888 candidates from 10,016 schools participated in this year’s BECE.

A total number of seven subjects were written by most candidates. They were Mathematics, English Language, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Basic Design and Technology, Ghanaian Language and French.

Apart from the petty problems with question papers, answer sheets and inadequate number of pencils, this year’s examination ended without any official reported leak in any part of the country.

Profile: Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa — Youngest Minister

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

He is currently the youngest person to be appointed a minister of state in the history of Ghana. At 28, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is a Deputy Minister of Information in the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Sam, as he is affectionately called, is one of the outspoken members of the NDC, even though outwardly he seems to be the cool and reserved type.

A look at his curriculum vitae (CV) showed that he had occupied various leadership positions in his schooldays. For instance, he was once the Class Captain at the Association International School, President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), President of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Club, Vice-President of the Scripture Union (SU) and Editor-In-Chief of the magazine of the SRC of the University of Ghana. 

When the Junior Graphic caught up with him in his office at the Ministry of Information for a chat, one thing that was obvious was the fact that the young minister is a well organised person. 

On his table were neatly arranged files and various types of books. Among them were the 1992 Constitution, the President’s State of the Nation Address Book and his laptop. His phone kept ringing, maybe to tell how busy the young minister is. 

Spotting a black suit, with his well-trimmed hair, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that his day began as early as 6 a.m. as he  prepared to answer questions from various radio presenters and people who needed clarification on certain government policies.

“Sometimes I leave the office for home after 9 p.m. That is, when I don’t have any event to honour or appear on a television or radio programme,” he said.

Asked how he felt as a young minister, he jokingly said, “I can’t wait to move from the 20s to the 30s so that people will stop seeing me as a young person. All the same, I’m still the Sam people know. In fact, my position has not changed my being at all.”

 According to him, he still hung out with his friends, shared a drink and discussed various social issues with them just as he used to do before he became a minister.

He was quick to add that though he occupied a big position now, for him the road to the top had not been that smooth. 

“I am not a Dada ba at all, as people assume. My mum was a businesswoman who had a food joint on the campus of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) and the Dzorwulu Cluster of Schools. My siblings and I had to help serve the food to customers after school and during vacation,” he said. 

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa described himself as someone from a simple family, saying that there were times when things were so hard for his parents that he defaulted in the payment of school fees and had to be sent home.

Born on August 11, 1980, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, who could be described as an Accra “boy”, said he was born and bred at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra. 

He started his early education at the Association International School in Accra from 1987 to 1996. He proceeded to the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon from 1997 to 1999 for his secondary education.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, who had fond memories of PRESEC, said he enjoyed his days there. 

“I used to be a day student but I decided to be in the boarding house to enable me have that Presbyterian training that makes one independent and responsible,” he explained.

“I am naturally not an ‘anti-so’ person so I participated in all extra-curricular activities. I never participated in competitive sports but loved to play football and was a member of the debating club, the NCCE and SU,” he added.

In 1999, he was adjudged  the Best Debater in the Greater Accra Region. Between 2002 and 2006, he was at the University of Ghana where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Despite his tight schedule, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa is pursuing a Law programme with the University of London.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has travelled extensively, said he loves politics because he is the type who always wants to fight for the rights of people.

Make BECE incident-free

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, has urged candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to make this year’s examination incident-free, since they have just a few subjects to write.

“You all had enough time to prepare for this annual examination and, therefore, there is no point carrying foreign materials into the examination halls, copying from friends or teaching others, which are all grievous offences,” he told the candidates.

The minister was addressing BECE candidates in the Ga East and the Adentan municipality on Monday when the BECE commenced throughout the country. 

This year, BECE candidates are writing papers in English Language, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Basic Design and Technology, Ghanaian Language and French. Meanwhile, French and Ghanaian Language have been made optional.

He also requested that pregnant candidates and those who owed school fees should not be sent out of the examination halls, since they all had the  right to sit for the examination so far  as they were duly registered.

Mr Tettey-Enyo visited the Achimota School Centre, which has 1,158 candidates at three centres; the PRESEC Staff School Centre, which has 919 candidates, and the West Africa Senior High School (WASS) Centre, which has 385 candidates.

By 9:45 a.m. on Monday, candidates at the PRSEC Staff School had already had their first feel of how external examinations are conducted  with the writing of the English Language Paper One.

Some of the anxious candidates got to their various centres as early as 5:30 a.m. to revise their notes for the last time.

At almost all the centres visited, there were absentees and some visibly pregnant girls.

At the Adentan Community School Centre where  617 candidates were supposed to write the exams, two of them were absent.

The Adentan Municipal Chief Executive, Mrs Nubyl Kakra Van Lare, who visited the centre, encouraged the candidates to relax and put in their best, reports Severious Kale Dery.

She cautioned them against examination malpractice, assuring them that the examination was within their capability.

The Adentan Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Rosemund Ajoa Keteku, explained that one of the invigilators had mistakenly taken 40 extra questions, a development which created initial panic but the abnormally was rectified.

One of the supervisors of the centre, Mrs Bernice Ofori, said the examination had taken off smoothly, “the only hitch being the artificial shortage which has been corrected. One other problem is that one of the candidates fell sick and vomited but she insists that she can continue with the exams”.

In all, 350,888 candidates from 10,016 schools are writing the week-long examination at 1,278 centres throughout the country.

2010 BECE — Five subjects for placement

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

The number of subjects that will be used for the selection and placement of candidates into senior high schools (SHSs) this year has been reduced from six to five by the Computerised School Selection and Placement (CSSPS) Secretariat.

The five subjects that will be used for the 2010 placement  are the four core subjects — Mathematics, English Language, Social Studies and Science — while the fifth subject will be any one elective subject of candidates.

Explaining the reason for the change, Mr Stephen Adu, the Director of Basic Education at the Ghana Education Service, said last year the examinable subjects were 10 and as a result, the CSSPS used six subjects for the placement exercise.

“This year, candidates are writing just six subjects and that informed the decision to reduce the subjects used for the school placement,” he explained.

According to him, the number of examinable subjects were reduced to six in accordance with the recommendations of the 2007 educational reform which indicated that the number of subjects candidates wrote in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were too many.

Mr Adu disclosed that next year candidates would be examined in Religious and Moral Education and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). 

He, however, explained that ICT would be made optional, since most of the basic schools did not have computers.

Mr Adu wished all BECE candidates well in their examination, saying he was optimistic that they would come out with flying colours.

More classrooms for Senior High Schools

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

In a bid to accommodate fresh and continuing students next academic year, the government is working around the clock to provide infrastructure for students in senior high schools (SHS) by September this year.

This was disclosed to the Junior Graphic by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Mr Paul Krampa, during an interview on the duration of the SHS.

According to him, the Ministry has received numerous complaints that due to inadequate facilities  in some SHS, some school heads have resolved not to admit new students.

“This is unfortunate as it is the responsibility of  heads of schools to admit candidates who gain admission to their schools”.

Mr Krampa who made reference to the President’s State of the Nation address recently said the admission to SHS for the 2009/2010 academic year, increased by 25 per cent over last year’s figure. 

Withthe increase in enrolment, he explained that  it had become necessary for government  to provide additionalal facilities in all the senior high schools to ensure that the schools are able to admit the increasing number ofsenior high school students. 

Asked whether the duration of the SHS is three or four years, he said the government had decided that as from the beginning of next academic year as the four-year period will put pressure on the already scanty resources in some schools. 

No more classes under trees

No more classes under trees — Beginning 2011

             

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

The numerous pupils and students studying under trees across the country will be provided with permanent accommodation by the end of 2010.

A Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a discussion with the Junior Graphic, said in order to make school-going more attractive to children, the government would provide a school building for every single school currently operating under a tree.

He said in addition, it would expand facilities in existing shift system schools to completely do away with that system.

The deputy minister disclosed that currently provision had been made to construct and furnish 165 school buildings to accommodate the affected schools, while 250 new schools and kindergartens would be constructed and furnished by 2010.

According to him, as many as 45,000 pupils sitting under trees would benefit from the school accommodation when completed.

He explained that the provision of accommodation had become necessary, since more pupils were enrolling in schools as a result of the capitation grant and the school feeding programme. 

“Therefore, it is government’s responsibility to ensure that children study comfortably and not under the hot sun and at the mercy of the rains,” he added.