After completing SHS in 2007, I had the intention of temporarily joining radio. I discussed with my mum that I would love to share my views on a radio station. The conversation between my mum and me happened in our house near the ECG office in Oda. A co-tenant who was also cooking around the same time told my mum she knew the host of sports on Radio BIYAC so she would link me up with him.
Well, that linking up really didn’t happen as expected, so I found my own way to BIYAC FM one afternoon when Kwasi Azor, Ebenezer, and others were hosting their Sunday ntete3pa show.
Radio BIYAC, the first radio station in the Eastern Region, had dedicated a whole hour on Sunday afternoon to their Fun Club, the BIYAC Fun Club. This was in fulfillment of the station’s vision. BIYAC actually stands for Birim Youth for Action and it was more focused on training young enthusiastic media personnel. Members of the BIYAC Fun Club did not require any special training to host a show. All that you needed was passion and desire.
Azor, Eben, Nicholas Morkah, and others gave me a warm welcome and registered me as a member of the Fun Club. With time, I became a member of the leadership of the BIYAC Fun Club and started hosting ntete3pa myself.
Working with Angel FM
Entering into 2008, Angel FM was set up in Kumasi, Multimedia started Asempa FM, and a new radio station called Life FM was established in Nkawnkaw, among others. Kwasi Azor had the opportunity to work with Asempa FM as one of their Eastern Regional Reps, Eben had the opportunity to work with Life FM, and I was also eager to work with a radio station.
In April 2008, Michael Birikorang, one of the members of the BIYAC Fun Club who had the opportunity to work with GBC, came to Oda, and I discussed with him my desire to work with a radio station. He gave me the contact of Richmond Addo, News Editor of Angel FM-Kumasi, and asked me to contact him. I quickly called, and Richmond assured me that I could start working with them.
Later, Richmond connected me to his deputy, Eunice Akoto Attakora-Manu. I worked with Angel FM without pay or any form of allowance from April 2008 until I left for university in August 2012. All the while, I remained an active member of the BIYAC Fun Club.
Working with other Radio Stations
Within that period, I had the opportunity to work on many projects, particularly on election coverage with several giant media houses. Post-2012, I still worked with some radio stations on election coverage. I covered elections in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 for radio stations like EIB, Multimedia, Kencity Media, among others.
Between 2008 and 2012, Angel FM used to relay news through Eastern FM. This brought me in contact with Eastern FM, working closely with Kojo Ansah, Apenteng, and others, of course, pro bono. I learned radio on the job with only my Apam Secondary School certificate.
As we celebrate World Radio Day, I pay special tribute to Radio BIYAC. The experience gained and the opportunities offered can never be quantified in monetary terms.
Thank you Radio BIYAC
By Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong
