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From producer to first female Programmes Manager of Joy FM …Edem Knight-Tay tells her story
When life gets tough, dreams are sometimes sacrificed temporarily or permanently but that was not the case of indomitable Mrs.Edem Knight-Tay.
She had studied General Arts at Okuapeman Secondary School at Akuapem-Akropong in the Eastern Region and was yet to discover where the road to her dream would lead her.
But after many years of sailing through turbulent tides, she has risen to become the first female Programmes Manager of Joy FM, one of the pioneers of private radio business in Ghana.
The Spectator recently caught up with the industrious lady, currently the hostess of Home Affairs on the 99.7 dial in Accra and a Communications Consultant to delve into aspects of her life and career.
Background
Edem, as she is affectionately called, was born to Madam Eugenia Ankrah and Mr.Gladstone Yaw Kuma Dagadu, all of blessed memory.
In her teenage years, she took up teaching at New Nation School in Accra in a bid to save money and further her education at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).
According to her, the choice of NAFTI at the time was against the “fanciful trend” of some young people yearning to enter the university, solely for the lavish lifestyle they intended to live.
As young as she was, she was able to read the “hazy map” of her life and determine the career she wanted to pursue.
Education
In 2004, she successfully completed Bachelor of Film and Television Directing and was the only female in her year group to obtain a First Class Honours.
Her silent movie produced in second year, earned positive reviews from her lecturers. She made a music video using the hit song, ‘Kpanlogo Y3d3”, by Amandzeba Nat Brew which was adjudged the best music video of her year group.
The video, she noted, had become a reference point which was still being used as teaching material at the institution.
Her final year project “Image Africa” was also adjudged the best directed movie.
While in school, she had started working with Ivan Quashigah who had just begun Farm House Production, worked as a Production Assistant and Director.
Edem, as a trainee, helped produce some popular programmes of that era such as Frytol Women’s Digest and ‘Nsem Wo World’ a local language TV series aired on GTV and Metro TV.
She explained it was some of those productions that shot Agyakoo to fame and enhanced the status of popular actor Akrobetu.
After completing the course, she worked as a Teaching Assistant at NAFTI between 2004 and 2005 and had some stints with GTV in 2003, and later started her own production company in 2006.
Work
As it is the case with many women, Edem after marriage had to spend about five years at home to help her children find their feet before she could take up another permanent role.
She admitted that those five years were quite challenging and feared the impossibility of bouncing back to her career.
Nonetheless, she managed to secure a job as Channel Manager for Sky Digital TV in 2009, and hosted Young Adults, a TV programme at the station, which saw to the rejuvenation of her creativity.
She later set up Evergreen Child Development Centre, a nursery at home, where busy parents found her trustworthy to keep their children.
“I started with one child and in no time, I had 30 screaming children at home. That level of activity was very therapeutic for me”, she noted.
Edem, who now has four children, had run the Child Development Centre for two years until her sister-in-law drew her attention to a job advertisement at Joy Fm in 2011. She applied and took off as a radio producer.
Joy FM
Edem’s first engagement was to produce Home Affairs and Ultimate Health. But two days to the start of her role at the radio station, she got an enhanced offer to handle the award-winning “Drive Time” show as well.
She later rose from the position of producer to become the hostess of the Home Affairs programme and after years of dedicated service, became Head of Productions at the Multimedia Entertainment Hub in 2017.
In 2019, she was again promoted to Head of Talk, Entertainment and Religious Programmes at the station. In August 2020, she was appointed the first-ever female Programmes Manager.
Edem who holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resource Management, describes her task as “a tough one.”
“My role included creating compelling content through the talents and resources I have while attracting audiences and revenue with the content we create,” she said.
While acknowledging the support of the Management of Multimedia Group Ltd, She expressed confidence in her team as she works hard to accomplish the task at hand.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
