Broadcaster, Nana Kwabena Bobie-Ansah
Radio presenter, Nana Kwabena Bobie-Ansah has opened up on circumstances he claims led to his dismissal from Asempa FM, a subsidiary of Multimedia Group Limited (MGL), stressing that authorities hated him for no apparent reason.
Speaking in an interview with Bismark Boachie (DJ Premier) on Accra FM’s Entertainment Capital, Bobie-Ansah mentioned that his assertiveness was misconstrued as being arrogant and disrespectful to authority.
He recounted being accused of tarnishing the image of Joy FM, another subsidiary of MGL after his decision to follow up on a story the station carried exposed the entity.
“One day, on my way home, I tuned in to Joy FM to listen to the news. It was being cast by Araba Koomson. This was during the late Atta Mills’ reign. According to the news, government had engaged the services of assassins to execute executives of Ghana Real Estate Development. They just read the news like that. So I told myself we should have gone further,” the former host of Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen recalled.
“When I got to the office the following day, I called my producer, Dominic. I called Kojo, Cox Tamakloe and told them Joy didn’t speak to GREDA so let’s get to GREDA. We called and the government denied. We called GREDA and the Chief Executive drove to Asempa FM studio and vehemently denied. Then, I was accused of attacking my sister station. The one who did a shoddy work and I who covered both angles, who erred? Can you imagine!” he fumed.
Bobie-Ansah further reiterated that some management members despised the late Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) and wanted him out of the company, a move he – Bobie – protested as he suggested that KABA be made his backup host.
Not only that. He also countered suggestions that the producer of his show should be dismissed. For having the courage to raise objection to these and other issues, he was tagged as one becoming overly powerful.
“KABA was in the newsroom, he had qualities. The guy was so good. I interacted with him and knew he was a brilliant guy. I didn’t have backup at the time and they suggested we go for a backup from Adom FM which I objected. I told them we should groom KABA but they rejected him. Even some Asempa FM presenters said ‘it can’t be KABA’. So I told them they’re joking. It got to a point, KABA wasn’t happy so whenever I travelled to Kumasi, I went with him. I kept on encouraging him. Their issue was KABA speaks too slow and I told them to allow him to function. Because of this, Bobie has become too powerful,” he recalled.
“Kwesi Twum was ready to let KABA go. They even wanted to sack my producer, Dominic. That we should go for another producer. I objected that one as well because we had worked with Dominic and he had had a lot of contacts. Were we now going for someone else to come and build his capacity? These were my arguments. What did I do wrong? To bring up people? If this is your basis, then I care less,” he added.
Bobie who is now with Accra FM says he was eventually sacked by MGL but insisted he was never hurt by the decision.
“They sacked me. No reason was given” he intimated. “They claim I allow politicians to insult on the platform. Recently Kennedy Agyapong insulted someone’s mother on the show. If I were the host, they would have trumpeted it. You see... you realize the hate, the envy, the confusion in their minds. Most of the people, if you ask them what Bobie did wrong, they would have no answer for you. If I close at 6 and go sit at a bar and drink alcohol, does that make me a bad person? Because I drink and you don’t, you think you’re better than me?”
