‘The airwaves will never be the same again! Death has stolen a great son of Ghana’, words of Gender Minister Otiko Afisa Djaba at the memorial service of deceased ace broadcaster, Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) on Monday, November 20.
KABA’s sudden demise has thrown the country into a state of shock and grief. Since news broke about the unfortunate incident, several persons including top politicians and media personalities have eulogized the presenter, many describing him as an ‘irreplaceable gem’.
Speaking at the sidelines of the memorial service held by the Multimedia group at the company’s forecourt on Monday morning, Madam Afisa Djaba expressed utter shock at the news of KABA’s demise, indicating that she is yet to come to terms with the fact that ‘a national treasure’ of his kind has been lost.
“It was a shock, unbelievable, I had to call to ask, ‘is it true?’ because I heard him last week on ‘Ekosii sen’ and I still have not recovered from this news. Ghana has lost a national treasure, a jewel”. His legacy she said, must continue to be esteemed.
“This light must continue to shine, filling his shoes will be very difficult, the day of his death is a black day for all of us”, she said.
She extended sympathy to the bereaved family, urging Ghanaians to support the family in whichever way possible to overcome the pain of the loss.
“I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to Valentina, KABA’s wife and child…..As we mourn him, my heart continuously goes out to his wife and child and I ask that we all support them especially for this loss”.
KABA was reported dead on Saturday November 18 whilst being rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching hospital after a short illness.
He was 37 years old. He was until his demise, the host of ‘Ekosii Sen’ on The Multimedia Group’s Asempa FM.
He left behind a wife and a daughter. Many, following his death have poured out tributes and eulogized the broadcaster who in many ways contributed significantly to journalism and development in the country.
Prominent among those who have expressed their heartfelt condolences are President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Former President John Dramani Mahama.
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KABA joined Asempa FM in 2008 as a service provider and became full time in August 2009. Prior to joining the Multimedia Group, KABA had worked with Top Radio from 2004-2008.
KABA trained as a teacher at the University of Cape Coast after which he moved to the Ghana Institute of Journalism for Communications Studies.
He later enrolled at the University of Ghana to study Political Science. KABA had also hosted Adom TV’s Morning Show ‘Badwam’ on Multi TV.
The ace broadcaster was among a group of selected senior journalists who joined the president at the Flagstaff House this year to ask him questions about critical national issues.
KABA married Valentina Ofori Afriyie in June 2016, a staff of Accra-based Class FM, who had moved from Radio Gold.
