Ghanaian media mourn KABA of Asempa FM

One of Ghana’s most popular political talk show hosts on mass market radio has passed on, attractiing waves of shock particularly among fans of mid-afternoon political talk show.

Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong, popularly called KABA, host of one of the widely listened to talk shows in Ghana Ekosi Sen on Asempa Radio died last Saturday.

His death shocked the media fraternity and politicians across the length and breadth of the country, who since last Saturday have been extending condolences to the bereaved family and management and staff of the Multimedia Group, owners of the Asempa FM.

Cause of death

The cause of the death is not known, but information gathered by Daily Graphic indicated that KABA complained of illness last Thursday in the course of the programme.

He was conspicuously absent from the studio last Friday but hardly did anybody link it to any serious illness.

Pillar of journalism

A statement issued by the National Media Commission (NMC) in Accra on Sunday, describing the late KABA as one of the pillars in broadcasting in the country and expressed condolences to the wife, family of the deceased, as well as the Multimedia Group and the media fraternity in general.

“As the media regulator, we deeply share in your grief in this trying moment. Our wish is that you will continue to be strong in the face of this great loss.

“We urge everyone within the media space not to be deterred by the passing of our dear brother, but to rather encourage ourselves to uphold the tenets of good journalism and professionalism in memory of our departed brother,” said the statement signed by the Chairman of the commission, Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, and issued in Accra on Sunday.

Astute journalists

In a statement eulogising the departed journalist, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) said: “KABA was a very astute broadcast journalist whose popular political programme Ekosi Sen on Asempa FM helped to expand the frontiers of freedom of expression and also deepen the country’s fledgling democracy.”

“He was very open-minded and fair to all persons who featured on his programmes, a unique disposition that endeared him to participants and listeners, irrespective of their political, social, religious and ethnic orientation,” a statement signed by the association’s, General Secretary, Mr Kofi Yeboah, said.

“Indeed, the death of KABA is a big blow to the Multimedia Group, the GJA and Ghana as a whole. It is in such sense of irredeemable loss that the GJA expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, especially his wife, Valentina Ofori Afriyie of Class FM and little daughter, Nana Yaa, as well as the entire Multimedia family.

“The association wishes to pledge its continuous support to the organization of the funeral of KABA in order to give him a befitting burial.

“There is no doubt that KABA has paid his due to journalism in Ghana and served his country so well. The GJA believes his death is only divine. And so in this grieving moment, and in utmost solemnity and sobriety, the GJA calls on all friends, families and loved ones to reflect on the good works of KABA in order to take a cue from them, rather than allow the pain of loss to overwhelm their thoughts and utterances,” it said.

Career

KABA began what would later become a sterling career in broadcast journalism at Top Radio in Accra in 2004, and rose through the ranks as a reporter to become host of the station's morning show Adekyepa   and the News Editor. He left the station in 2008.

He joined the Multimedia Group in August 2009 as a broadcast journalist. He was then the regular host of daily news bulletin Asempa Today on Asempa FM and hosted weekly current affairs programme Kukurantumi on Saturday mornings.

He went through the Multimedia mill to become one of the country’s most-sought-after political and current affairs talk host.

A passionate anti-corruption fighter, he used his time behind the microphone to fight the national canker.

A humorous figure, his exchanges with politicians from both sides of the political divide endereared him to listeners of the mid-afternoon political show.

He was recently awarded as the Best Talk Show Host in the 2017 edition of the Radio and Television Personality (RTP) Awards.

He was survived by a daughter and a wife, Valentina Ofori Afriyie—the two tied the knot in 2016.