With its proximity to Accra, Koforidua is one of the cities in Ghana in which you could listen to most radio stations that transmit from Accra, but once within the city, you sure want to also enjoy radio from within the heart of it. In this piece, Jetsanza.com presents to you the stations to listen to in Koforidua and how to select just what you need based on your interest.
Eastern Fm (Formerly Radio Z) 105.1
With the proliferation of private commercial radio in the year 1995 with the establishment of Joy Fm in Accra, it was time for Koforidua to have her own. Therefore on the afternoon of August 22, 1997, Eastern Fm became the first radio station in Koforidua. It began operating with the name “Radio Z”. The station began with some of the old and retired Broadcasters from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) who hailed from the city. Notable names among the pioneers are Kweku Temeng and Wofa Duku, all of blessed memory.
Some of the young ones who graced the station with their voices are Abeiku Aggrey aka Santana, Alexender Siaw and Anaafi Agyeman who are all no more with the station. Established by Mr Owusu Acheampong aka MC Caterpillar who worked at Radio Zurich in Switzerland, the station continues to drive a considerable amount of listenership today especially among the rural folks in the Region.
If you are in looking for a radio station that will feed you with good old music that appeals to the older generation, your dial should be on no other but 105.1.
Especially on Fridays, the station spends a considerable amount of time churning out “funeral songs”. This has been a consistent characteristic of the station since its inception, programs that provide historical information about old events and music in Ghana is something you will not miss.
Format: The station operates a General Audience format in Akan and spends the early hours of the day interacting with listeners on what is known as the “Eastern Agenda”, one of its oldest running programs.
Midday on Eastern Fm is marked by more music and sales programs.
Politics, Sports and Relationship programs parallel those of a typical Akan radio station.
Goodlife FM 105.5
What was started by a Reverend Minister and now owned by Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum is a “Gospel Station”.
If you are in Koforidua and love to be “in the spirit”, Goodlife FM is the station for you. The station has gained a reputation for producing health programs and rich award-winning midday Akan News. You will hear only Gospel music, preaching messages, and a lot of health talks by various natural health practitioners.
Sunrise FM 106.7
This is the second station to have been established in the city. The government-owned station is the station with the widest coverage as it transmits on two frequencies. 106.7 and 102.1.
Format: The station operates a general audience format in Akan with a little blend of English. It is symptomatic of the typical GBC in Accra as it does everything parallel to the “mother station”. Sunrise Fm picks their news from GBC in Accra, as such, you can be sure of quality professional news devoid of any antics at 6:00 AM, 12 noon and 6:00 PM.
If you are the type who used to enjoy GBC Radio 2 in the 80s, this is the station for you when you are in Koforidua and its environs.
EMARK FM 97.7
Having started with lots of presenters from Eastern FM, you can be sure that it began as just another Eastern FM, however, this station won the hearts of many with their afternoon political show hosted by Francis Annor Dompreh who also joined from Eastern Fm but no more with Emark too.
Owed by Apostle Evans Tawiah, the station has gained a reputation for several preaching times where different pastors grace their airwaves with their messages.
Their afternoon political show is no more as vibrant as it used to be.
Format: Emark operates a general audience format that is “light” in that, their programs are interlaced with lots of music. If you are a music lover, this is the station you should be glued to in Koforidua. If there is a station that saw a massive exodus of presenters joining and at the same time leaving, it is Emark FM. As a result, a new generation of presenters now hold the fort and have brought in a new phase of presenting all together. These are however very young ladies and gentlemen and are bound to play music of the current trend. 87.7 is the frequency.
Bryt Fm 99.1
This is the first of the Joy Daddy Industries’ radio stations that was established. Born out of the search for a channel to promote the products of Joy Industries, this is not a station you would want to listen to if you are not ready for heavy entertainment. With the likes of Ekow Puncho and Mama Sita, Jah Solo and more to churn out good music and entertainment, there is so much fun on their airwaves. Bryt FM was the station that managed to organize musical concerts that filled every square metre at the Jackson’s Park. With the likes of Dancehall King Shatta Wale gracing their concerts, Bryt has gained a reputation for huge events. The Dadi’s bar would feature live band that is sometimes transmitted on their airwaves.
Bryt, despite their entertainment dose also provides their listeners with Akan news, following the steps of Peace FM or Adom Fm, you will enjoy their news if the local news is a thing you have a knack for.
Tyt Fm 88.9
Another child of the Joy Industries, this station was set up purposely to play music. With absolutely no talk on their airwaves, it is all music. Any talk on this frequency is a feed from any of the other sister stations. Mainly Bryt FM.
Taste Fm 90.9
A station acquired from then Vision FM (an all English Radio station) and then converted to Taste FM. This station, like Bryt, was established purposely to promote the products of the Angel group of companies (mainly Adonko Bitters).
It is a station with very little “stress”. You will hear one voice presenting the morning show and drive time. And then more of programs from Angel Fm, their mother station from Kumasi.
If you love Kumasi Akan station formatting, this is the station you should be listening to while in Koforidua. You are bound to hear news from Kumasi, and have all the “Juicy Oseikrom filla”.
MY FM 94.5
After much controversy of the frequency, 94.5 eventually became part of the Obuoba Group. With a typical general audience format, My Fm is gradually gaining roots in Koforidua as talk radio with a heavy dose of sports in their program line up.
Being the latest in the city, you can only “give it a try” to see if they have what you need in a radio station.
KTU Radio 87.7
Just like any campus radio, you will find KTU a platform where young talented students who aspire the profession of radio broadcast are “testing their paws”. This station tries to “mimic commercial radio”. But KTU has a few unique programs like their “French program”.
If you want to listen to young fresh and emerging young broadcasters, albeit the occasional lapses occasioned by experimentation. Recently, they have started picking feeds of some current affairs programs like “News File” from Joy Fm.
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