Despite Boys Clash!

Reports that the Despite Group of Companies would now have three of its best hands�Kwame Sefa Kayi, Kwame Nkrumah Tikese and Akwasi Aboagye�competing among themselves for radio audience each morning on three separate stations has generated some heated talk and excitement. Neat Fm, one of the stations owned by the company, is set to start its own morning show and has settled on popular broadcast journalist and radio DJ Akwasi Aboagye as host. Already there is competition between Okay Fm�s morning show, �Ade Akye Abia�, hosted by Kwame Nkrumah Tikese and Peace Fm�s morning show, �Kokrokoo�, hosted by Kwame Sefa Kayi. Both shows start at the same time, target the same audience, use the same means of communication, which is the Akan language, and sometimes even interview the same people on the same topics. Should Neat Fm start its own morning show, it will obviously join the fierce competition for media audience, though owners of the station have pretended there is no such competition. Akwasi Aboagye is very popular and has a huge following among followers of entertainment. He hosts the Peace Fm Entertainment Review show, rated as the biggest and most popular entertainment programme on radio. He also hosts �Entertainment Ghana� on Neat Fm and a music show on Peace Fm on Sundays. Akwasi is, however, yet to prove his strength when it comes to hosting a radio morning show which is largely centred on political issues, governance and the economy. A source at the station whispered to NEWS-ONE that management settled on Akwasi Aboagye who has over the years supported the production team and contributed to the success of both �Ade Akye Abia� and �Kokrokoo�. The source said Despite Group contemplated poaching a few big names from other rival stations to host the Neat Fm morning show but when they commenced pre-poaching talks, it became obvious the other people were not bringing anything new on board. Though Neat Fm is a relatively new and small station, it managed to get a slot on the recent radio audience survey conducted by Ipsos. Interestingly, other supposedly older and bigger stations could not even make it to the rating list. �Ade Akye Abia� Okay Fm�s�Ade Akye Abia�has become very popular across the capital and has often been used as a reference or source of information. The host, Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, has an enviable command over the Akan language, which has even sparked speculations that he does not speak English. However, he has often been criticised for his seeming lack of concentration when conducting interviews. It is very common for Tikese to ask questions his interviewees have already provided answers to. He has a friendly way of hosting the show and giving useful education of the origin, proper usage and meaning of Akan words, adages and expressions. �Kokrokoo� Though the show has a very huge following and excellent public appeal, it is sometimes disappointing when producers and the host do not start the programme early and listeners have to remain tuned in listening to adverts. Interestingly, this happens when other morning shows are in full swing conducting interviews and going through the news-worthy issues of the day. Kokrokoo, however, has over the years maintained its loyal listeners, perhaps due to the dexterity and professionalism of the host, Kwame Sefa kayi, and the solid panel the producers assemble each day. Sefa Kayi has the boldness and self confidence to ask questions his peers would ordinarily shy away from. He also has a rather probing mind which makes him delve into the fine details of almost every issue discussed on his show. Until July when Neat Fm starts its morning show with Akwasi Aboagye, it will be difficult to tell which of the three will actually command the airwaves each morning.