If you have been wondering how the affable Kwami Sefa Kayi (KSK) of Peace 104.3 FM came to be known as the Chairman-General, please stop wondering. The cat is out of the bag.

It jumped out of the bag on JoyNews’ PM Express Personality Profile on September, 17, 2021.

“My colleague Nana Yaa Konadu. In 2009, she was part of my show, ‘Kokrokoo’. I named her Mama Africa. One morning, I interviewed the Auditor General, Solicitor General and Attorney General. So she walked up to me and said if you have interviewed all these people, then you also deserve a ‘General’ title.

So, she named me Chairman-General. For somebody who wanted to be in the military but could not, I accepted it. It’s not a naughty nickname, so it’s a good feeling” Kwami revealed.

Humble beginnings

My first son is a diehard ‘BHIM Native’. Some of his friends call him ‘Chairman’, others say ‘Burniton’ and he responds ‘Yey’. Anytime he drives me, ‘Burniton’ tunes the radio to a station where Stonebwoy’s tracks are played.

As a captive audience to these songs during such rides, I have been compelled to commit some of the lyrics to memory. Sometimes I sing along unconsciously. One of these songs, which touches my heart, is titled, ‘My Name’.

Part of the lyrics goes thus,

Hey-hey-hey eeey… Stonebwoooooy!

…don’t call me name, if you no hustle with me from the beginning ey

oh what a shame, why do you want me to fail at the end of the day

you only know my name, you don’t know my story oonononoo

Having been indoctrinated into the Burniton family, this song played back to me when I watched the no holds barred interview Ayisha Ibrahim had with Kwami Sefa Kayi on the aforementioned date.

“You only know my name, you don’t know my story”. This is what caught my attention.  From what Kwami told Ayisha, the lyrics of ‘My Name’ sounded to me as if the BHIM President had Kwami’s story in mind when he composed that banger. Such humble beginnings of a now Ghanaian media icon. Wao!!

I guess you know his name. The story? Baby Sefa was born a pre-term baby at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, on June 20, 1970 to an Ewe father and an Akuapim mother.

Dad, an Army Colonel, died in a car crash at age 48, leaving him and his siblings in the care of mum, a broadcaster, then working with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.  

Young Kwami started school at, from the way he said it, a home-based school, Mrs. Asare school, now Mother Care School, operated by an army officer’s wife.

He continued to Central Preparatory School, thence to Garrison Primary School, Okuapemman Secondary School, in Akropong Akwapim for ‘O’ Levels, Workers College for ‘A’ Levels and “I did Journalism School along the line.”

“It’s been long and hard road, “he recalled.

Seeing the end from the beginning - the broadcasting career

The phrase, ‘see the end from the beginning’ is usually associated with things or events that are bound to fail. But not for Kwami Sefa Kayi.

Kwami’s, is a clear case of identifying your talent early and pursuing that to the fullest. And mother, Auntie Safoa was very instrumental in this regard.

Mothers have a way of directing our path. In most cases, if we yield, it works. There are few instances though that as Kwami is wont to say, “Apaska”- unsuccessful.

With the carrot and stick approach, Mame Safoa served as the guarding hand that shaped the foundations of this national human resource, as regards broadcasting.

“I had come back from National Service and wanted to go straight into the army, but my mother had other ideas. She surreptitiously introduced me to broadcasting. She introduced me to Alex Ofori Karikari, her good friend. Before then was George Crabbe, who sat me on his laps and introduced me to the microphone when I was a child.”

“I started acting ‘Thursday Theatre’ with Janet Owusu and her Drama Group at GBC, which included the late Mcjordan Amartey and Fred Amugi amongst others, and I kind of started liking it. So she kind of slowly veered me into that area without me knowing. Because I was also enjoying the little celebrity attention that was coming to me. It was a big deal to be on TV then.”

Then came in Ekow Budu-Manuel, a renowned broadcaster of yesteryears. He polished the little nugget in young Kwami by giving him lessons in pronunciation and script writing, together with now Rev. Azigiza, Cox Tamakloe, Earl Ankrah and Kwasi Kyei Darkwa (KKD), the finest.  “Slowly, my mind went off the military,” He recollected.

The Chairman-General acted in what could best be described as Ghana’s response to the ‘Acapulco Bay’ soap opera in those days- ultimate paradise.  He wrote articles that were published in the famous P&P (People and Places) newspaper, The Spectator and The Mirror among others. “I was an all-round media person” Kwami summed up.

The Gold(en) journey and the Peace(ful) end

Fame, they say has many friends. Wait oh. Does Kwami consider me a friend? Well I do. And my justification is that “true friends don’t grow apart even if they don’t talk everyday”- The Random Vibez.

Our path crossed in 1997 during his four-and-a half -year stint with the defunct Power Station, Radio Gold, 90.5 FM. He, a presenter/Programmes Manager. Me, a reporter who rose through the ranks to become Head of News within six years.

During the interview with Ayisha on PM Express Personality Profile, the Chairman-General remembered how he landed the ‘Golden’ job.

“My first real boss, unfortunately he passed- Baffoe Bonnie. Everybody called him Baboo. Baboo walked up to me one day and said, charley we are doing a radio station, are you interested? It was in 1995. At GBC, I was just what they called a contract staff. So Radio Gold and Baffoe Bonnie gave me my first real job. Even though the station started in 1996, I was employed in September, 1995. After four and half years I left for Peace FM in 2000 and the rest is history.”

In the history, is where I belong. I don’t remember clearly how it came about. But I found myself producing a mid-morning show hosted by Kwami. It was called ‘Kanawu’. We borrowed the name of the programme from the title of a song by Asebu Amenfi. “Kanawu” in Akan means speak your mind and damn the consequences because some things are disgusting.

This was a public complaints programme on which callers laid their frustrations with individuals, groups and organisations, bare. My duty as producer was to ensure that we obtained feedback from those alleged to have committed one wrong or the other.

I guess KSK was so impressed with the hard work I put in, as the leg man, by going round Accra. Sometimes from morning to evening, to get feedback for the ‘complainants’ and listeners. Thus, we formed some form of acquaintance aside the producer-presenter relationship.

As part of securing the feedback, mostly recorded, I also managed to get representatives of organizations complained about, to grant live studio interviews.

Public service organisations, especially ECG and AMA were the worse culprits. Almost every edition of the programme recorded a complaint against this duo. Along the line, AMA found our programme impactful enough to merit an award.

Subsequently, I was made part of the production team of the ‘Gold Breakfast Show’ – Esther-Ann Parker Allotey (Hayfron) and Roland Acquah-Stephen. When 'the Platform', hosted by Lawyer Nii Arday Clegg was introduced, I was asked to support the indefatigable Roland Acquah-Stephen.

I also produced 'The Golden Child' hosted by Jackie Asante Danso. One of our child-panelists is now a member of the Jubilee House Communications Bureau- Jefferson Kwamina Sackey.

As it was, we were doing our best to beat the competition posed Joy 99.7 FM. Then suddenly, Peace 104.3 FM launched on 25^th May, 1999 with Akan as the language for broadcast.

The scope of competition thus broadened. Trust the late Baboo to react appropriately. Koofori, real name Kwabena Kyere Karikari, Omansomfo Nana Yaw Kwakye and Mikki Osei Berkoh- the original ‘Kokonsa’ were brought on board. Subsequently, Radio Gold became a household name, thanks to this Jingle produced and directed by the man in black, Bertrand Barnnerman (BB) Menson- 'Aaafee fɛɛ, shi stiiiillllll, anyɛɛɛ!!.

Then the poaching started. Fiifi Banson was first to be snatched. I remember informing Kwami, one evening that I had heard Fiifi's voice on Peace FM. His response was a casual 'I’m aware'.

Then some skirmishes happened. The next thing I heard was my English Presenter/Programmes Manager was broadcasting in Akan on Peace FM.

I was shocked to the marrow. However, my surprise turned into joy when I learned later, that the poaching fee was irresistible. Nonetheless, I wondered if he could shine as well as he did at Radio Gold 90.5FM- ‘Your Power Station’. Obviously, it is now my turn to say, the rest is history.

Awards and recognitions

Kwami did not just shine, he excelled.

Today, ‘Cabron’ or KSK as we called him at Radio Gold, is not just a household name, he is a bastion of knowledge as far as media practice in Ghana, is concerned.

These sterling qualities have been duly recognised both by the state and numerous private initiatives. The awards and recognitions are many. Suffice it to say that the notable ones are:

• Radio Morning show host of the year - 2014
• GJA Journalist of the year - 2016
• State Honour- Order of the Volta- Member 2008 
• Olympic torch bearer 2012

The ‘Kokrokoo’ host was recently appointed to the Board of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

“President Akufo-Addo has appointed veteran broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi as a member of the board of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). The Peace FM morning show host was sworn in for the job among other members on Friday, August 6, 2021,” is how this enviable feat was announced by the media.

Kwami considers this, “an opportunity to serve your country in higher capacity. An opportunity to gain Board room and corporate experience.”

His stature in the media space has also earned him ambassadorial roles for great brands like SHELL, MTN Ghana and recently, Old Mutual.

“It’s been exciting over 25 years of broadcasting. There have been more pluses than minuses. The negatives are a learning curve and we learn from the minuses,” said Auntie Safoa’s son.

Giving back to God and country

‘Service to God and country’ is a phrase that features prominently in Kwami’s on-air statements. And the good book teaches us in Acts 20:35 that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Thus having received so much from Ghanaians, KSK decided to give back.

And he did not follow the crowd. A niche venture is what he chose through the ‘Kokrokoo charities’, which was established in 2015.

“My mum told me I was born pre-term. My daughter was also born preterm. NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital saved her. So I decided to support babies with similar fate” ‘Cabron’ revealed.

He therefore decided to mobilse funds to procure incubators for deprived hospitals. ‘Kokrokoo charities’ has so far donated 35 incubators to help curb mortality rate among pre-term babies.

“We need 65 more. It’s quite an expensive venture. It costs $10,000 each. Thankfully, we have received some donations. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has donated a substantial amount. GNPC has also given 159, 000 dollars. It is my way of giving back to the society. It has nothing to do with politics,” KSK stressed.

Unwasted Youth

“Youth comes but once in a lifetime” says Henry Wadworth Longfellow. This is definitely a license for one to enjoy being youth, and Kwami did not leave the opportunity to chance.

“I had fun growing up. I wrote love letters. I am a free spirit so I went to jams and disco. We did not have clubs, it was disco. We danced to music provided by mobile spinners- ‘Sky Hawks’, ‘Willie Chii’, ‘Moon Dogs’ etc. We looked forward to ‘Meet me there’ beach party on 1^st July every year and the women, helloo, helloo?,’ he muttered with that characteristic coy smile of his.

The media job and politics

“I am not neutral, I am fair. I am not always right” is how Kwami answered a question on how he is able to handle the two main political parties in the country, NDC and NPP.

According to him, he is aware that when a journalist says something in their favour, that media man is their friend. Otherwise, that individual is a foe. As such, he knows how to manage them.

According to KSK, he has friends on both sides, but does not lose sight of the fact that because politicians are looking for power, if you pose a hindrance to their cause, “they throw you under the bus.” This idiom, hmm. Very familiar, I got to know about it this year.

And I like what he said about the state of the media today, “we have done very well. But we have become very opinionated. We don’t like to be critiqued. We think we know it all. No, we can’t be right all the time. Watching the watchman does not mean we know it all.”

This one keeps ringing in my soul, “Some of us have become more sensational than sensible. Breaking news must have substance.” ‘Preach on brother’ was my reaction upon hearing this rhythmic statement – sensational, sensible and substance.

Political ambition? “Never say never. Maybe one day. When the opportunity comes, we get to the bridge, we cross it.”

Errr! The Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Kwami Sefa Kayi has said….. How about that? Knowledge and skills- check, oratory capabilities-Check, Personality- Check.

4 girls and a son

Kwami is married with 5 children- 4 girls and a son. The Soon-to-be-grandpa said he enjoys good relationship with his children.

The first girl, Fafa, was born when we were at Radio Gold, she is now 23, making her susceptible to the prying eyes of area boys.

So Ayisha asked whether KSK has enough dogs in the house. “What for? Young people of today are more exposed than we were. You whip them into line they will rebel. I use more engagement than whipping into line. I am not the best father, but I have good relationship with my children.”

Kwami said he loves playing tennis when he is not booming on air. And the open secret, “WƆgbɛ jɛkɛ” by Amandzeba is his favourite song. “It is my song. I know the lyrics from beginning to the end,‘ he said singing and interpreting the lyrics.

It’s time to go

I have been wondering why in the same Ghana, some leaders get it so right, while others get it so wrong.

Before October 12, 2021, congregation ceremonies of our ‘Ivy League’ universities were addressed by ‘biiig men’ - Professor Emeritus(es) and sitting Presidents as Guest Speakers.

So, when I saw my KSK addressing the 13^th Congregation of no less an institution than the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), arguably the third best in Accra, after my alma maters, UG and GIMPA, I remarked, that is another case of ‘out of the box thinking’. The experience and industry knowledge that this man possesses, cannot be found in any text book, not even the American ones.

The decision by Professor Abednego Fɛɛhi Okoe Amartey and his team to invite Kwami, not as a Special Guest, but Guest Speaker, is out of this country.  Someone, who does not have Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), addressing Professors and Master’s Degree holders? Only out of the box thinking produces this. UPSA, you got it so right.

There are many ‘Kwamis’ around. Most of them not on the airwaves, including yours truly, who have been told by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB), through university administrators, that they cannot lecture in any tertiary institution in Ghana.

The reason is that they don’t have MPhil or PhD. Thus, our Master of Arts Degrees do not qualify us to teach in Ghanaian universities, they contend. Why? Because the law says so. SMH!

In the interview with Ayisha, Kwami mentioned that although he loved to play tennis, he has not been able to play his favouraite game because of a failing knee. This means, if for any reason, KSK is no longer able to wake up at 3:00am to get to Abeka Junction by 5:00am from Monday to Friday, as he has done for more than two decades, lecturing, is not an option open to him.

With all this wealth of knowledge and experience, that no university can impart, and an Executive Master of Arts Degree in Conflict, Peace and Security, his energies would have to be redirected at other interests.

The resultant effect of this NCTE and NAB regulatory requirement, is that most of the privately owned universities rely on the same lecturers in the public universities as academic faculty.

Needless to say that many of these lecturers lack the needed industry experience to impart evidence- based knowledge to our future leaders. What they do is to re-write American text books into pamphlets, often with same American examples and sell to our children. When you challenge them in class, you are victimized in the exam.

Currently, what I know is that, universities that are desirous of tapping into such abundant wealth of industry knowledge, skill and experience of people like KSK, use what they call ‘visiting lecturer’ arrangements.

If the saying, ‘experience is the best teacher’ is true, why then do we allow theoretical knowledge to override experience in the education of our human resources.

I guess the University of Cape Coast and the University College of Education, Winneba, would have some answers. Dear Pro-Vice Chancellors, how about a three-month intensive teaching methodology course for non-MPhil and non-PhD holders to enable them teach in our universities. Other terms and conditions may apply.

Time to change the status quo is now!

Mia dogo - That’s goodbye in Ewe, Kwami's 'father tongue'.

Let God Lead. Follow Him directly, not through any human.

PS: The Governing Board of the National Communications Authority (NCA) has approved the licenses of some stations, including Radio Gold for operation, subject to some conditions spelt out by the Board.

The NCA in a press statement said “provisional authorisations shall be issued to the successful applicants at the end of a workshop and frequencies shall be assigned to the applicants only upon the fulfilment of the conditions of the Provisional Authorisation.”

We wait to see how it all turns out.

The writer works at myjoyonline.com