Peace FM @ 10

Peace FM, established in 1999 is arguably the best commercial radio station and has become the pace-setter in local language broadcasting in the highly-competitive radio industry. Peace FM which is celebrating its 10 years with special activities from May 25, 2009, has been empirically acknowledged by independent radio researchers like 'Beatwaves' a Marketing and Advertising Ltd. that Peace FM tops all commercial radio stations in the country as the most listened to radio station in the nation's capital.

In addition, new statistics conducted by Geographical Media's World News(www.geographicalmedia.com) Rank Peace FM on the 4th position in the world, stated “Peace FM is the number 4 most talked about radio station in the World. This ranking puts Peace FM among the 50 most talked about radio stations in the World with 0.02 % of all top news stories”

No wonder the station, just after one year (1999-2000) of its establishment started winning several awards of distinction in radio showered on them by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) they includes "Radio Programme of The Year," in 2000, Marketing Oriented Company of the Year also in 2000 and another Radio Programe of the Year in 2001, which was Maame Afia's "Wo Haw Ne Sen." The most current award the Radio Station has added to its national collection by the CIMG is another "Radio Programme Of The Year Award". The programme which won this award was Kwami Sefa Kayi's Morning Show Programme, dubbed, "Kokrokoo." And these are the highest awards to be received by individuals, organizations and companies which helped to market the nation.

The station, Peace FM, is located at Mile 7 in Achimota with its motto “Station With a Vision”, has been a popular radio station of exceptional appeal to both literate and illiterate listeners, focusing on issues of national interest, with excellent and balanced moderation to impart the necessary knowledge, almost daily, to its large captive audience.

The station is also popular for its social support to the needy and organizations, like blood donations, providing food items to hospitals and orphanages, and sponsoring youth progrmmes

It is, therefore, not surprising that in its relatively short existence, professionals, intelligentsia, institutions, professors, entrepreneurs, politicians and journalists from the various media houses and institutions in the country, like Mr. Kwesi Pratt, Professor Opanyin Agyekum, a linguistics lecturer, CIMG, Charter House, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, Ministry of Communications, the Presidential spokes person Mr. Mahama Ayariga of NDC, Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey former tourism Minister in the NPP, and several others, have applauded Peace FM as being the best station, and far ahead of it competitors in the media industry as well as those identified as sophisticated.

In an interview on the station's “Entertainment review” programme, the General Manager of Peace FM, Mr. Kwesi Brenya outlined some of the challenges they encountered at the beginning when they decided to broadcast 90% of their programme in the local Akan dialect (Twi). He said other radio stations which had already emerged in the radio industry were mocking Peace FM as being too rural. He however thanked God that their strategy had brought the station success. According to him, they chose to broadcast in a local language because they wanted the ordinary Ghanaian to understand and know what is going on in the world. Revealing the secret of their success, the general manager stated “our success has also come about because we always listen to our staff and listeners”. This year's 10th anniversary beginning from Monday, May 25 2009, therefore has the theme “Bringing Radio To The Ordinary Ghanaian”.

By John Nyaaba

Originating at www.peacefmonline.com