Fame is just not enough – Abena Kyei Boakye
FOR some people, being in the media space is such a big deal even if it means thriving on negativity as they think being in the limelight translates into money, but media personality Abena Kyei Boakye believes it is wrong for anyone to build a life on just fame.
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Abena who has been in the media space for 15 years and currently hosts Fontomfrom on Kantanka TV believes fame can get you under the spotlight but without focusing on personal growth and self-development, one can go missing on the radar. It takes a combination of these to stay at the top.
In a chat with the Daily Graphic, Abena mentioned that “you can’t build your life on fame alone. You need to develop yourself as a person so that you will be able to stay relevant and sustain yourself. Remember, self-development is crucial for sustainability so if all you have been doing is to just bask in your fame, what will you do if it wanes’, she asked.
Side hustle
And Abena makes a number of suggestions to develop oneself and not depend solely on fame.
“All that I am saying is what happens to you if you lose your fame one day. I will advise my colleagues in the media space to develop themselves academically, learn the ropes of the job and go into other ventures, have side hustles. I sell shito, tombrown, I take orders for drinks among others.
“We all know the media salary is low so you should have a side job that will be able to cushion you. There are a lot of people who are CEOs of their own businesses and also work in the media. This should be the goal,” she said.
Principles
On what has sustained her in the media space all these years, Abena attributed it all to hard work and prayers.
“Hard work, perseverance, dedication and ultimately involving God in all I do are the principles I live by. I don’t joke with my God because I believe in Him. I’m a Christian so these are the principles that guide me. God is my provider but I also know that I cannot get things easy, manna will not fall from above, I need to work hard, be self-disciplined and persevere so I hardly take no for an answer.”
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“Also, although I love fashion very much, I don’t force myself to do things above my means. I’m not in competition with anyone, I live within my means. Even if I have two outfits, I take very good care of them so when I make an appearance, you might think I have clothes in abundance.”
“I also do well to stay in my corner., I don’t involve myself with things that do not concern me at all. Even when it comes to social issues, I can express my opinion without insult, without offending people,” she disclosed.
Growing up
She may be on TV wearing the finest of clothes today but growing up wasn’t easy for the young lady. Abena recounts how her mom hustled to take care of nine children as a single mother.
“I am the last born so I was with my mom through it all, from selling tomatoes, garden eggs, banku, beans, cassava, okro etc. I’ve seen things and been there,” she noted.
Despite the challenges, Abena did not relent in seeking formal education. Today she holds BSC in Management from Methodist University and Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy from GIMPA.
Abena was third runner-up at Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2011 and she debunked the perception that being a beauty queen could get you anything you wanted.
“Please it’s not true, you cannot get anything you want just because you are a beauty queen. You need to work hard for what you want. Personally, I don’t stop seeking or getting more jobs in addition to what I’m doing. The least opportunity I get, I ask people if they can be of help—be it an ambassadorial deal, emceeing, acting etc”, she said.
In 2011, Abena won the TV Personality of the Year Award at the Golden Age Awards and last year, she received the Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Recognition from 3G Awards, USA.
Pad The Girl Project
Abena is the brain behind Pad The Girl Project where she supports young girls especially those in deprived areas with sanitary pads.
“When we talk of deprived areas, most times, rural settlements come to mind but there are deprived persons living right here in Accra, the nation’s capital. So, I took it upon myself to buy pads and give them out to young girls.”
“It’s been three years since I started this and I have single-handedly funded it. There’s been no support whatsoever from anywhere but because the Pad The Girl project is so dear to my heart, I am still soldiering on,” she added.
