A memorial service has been held for one of Ghana’s profound broadcast journalists,the late Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) on Monday.
The 37-year-old journalist was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he had been rushed after he suddenly fell sick early Saturday, November 18.
The memorial service organised by the Multimedia Group, his employers, was attended by hundreds of Ghanaians including politicians, government officials and media practitioners.
The well attended memorial service at the forecourt of Joy FM saw tributes from his employers, close friends, industry players and politicians.
Loss of national treasure
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba in a tribute said Ghana has lost a national treasure, a jewel but that KABA’s light must continue to shine.
She added that filling his shoes will very be difficult. “The airwaves will never be the same again. Death has stolen a good son of Ghana and a great son of Ghana”.
For his part, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, (GJA), Mr Roland Affail Monney described KABA as a son and a symbol of professionalism.
He said, “He is a son in the sense that I taught him in advance journalism course in GIJ and since then I have been following his progress. And it ignites a high sense of pride that within a short space of time, KABA shot into the limelight and established himself as one of the greatest talk show hosts”.
Say a prayer for his wife
Citi FM’s morning show host, Bernard Koku Avle also described KABA as a really nice guy and asked for prayers to be said for his wife, Valentina Ofori Afriyie who is also a journalist and his daughter.
In a mood of shock, veteran broadcaster, Tommy Annan-Forson, said “I’ve known him for a very long time. He was one person who looked up to me for advice, for direction. He was very respectful, very hardworking and so it came as a huge shock…” he recalled.
KABA was noted for his probing questions that often led politicians from all political shades to occasionally suggest he was working in tandem with their opponents.
