Maa Afia Konadu the accidental Broadcaster of Peace FM

Maa Afia Konadu, known in private life as Mrs. Henrietta Okyere Twum, was a household name when it came to radio talk shows in Ghana, especially for listeners of Despite’s Peace FM.

Maa Afia was born in Akyem Kwabeng, in the eastern region of Ghana, on November 17, 1950, to a headmaster and a trader.

Maa Afia, did you enjoy fatherly love since her father died in an accident in her early days.

She stayed with her mother for a period of time at Kibi before she moved to Cape Coast to stay with her brother.

At Cape Coast, she passed through a lot of difficulty, but she did not give up.

She went to Agogo Presbyterian Girls’ School and furthered to Yaa Asantewaa Girl’s Senior High School.

With God’s grace, she was admitted to Wesley College of Education in Kumasi to train as a professional teacher.

During her days at Wesley College, because of her character, she became the school prefect after she led a delegation to the principal for clarification about the criteria and qualifications for choosing a prefect.

She completed her training successfully and was posted to Akyem Akropong for her national services, but she refused since she wanted to join her sister, who was teaching in Accra, who then became the principal of the Presbyterian Women’s College of Education,Aburi.

She had the opportunity to change her National Service Station to Kibi, where she met her husband, who was also a teacher. After teaching at a basic school for numerous years, she furthers her education at the School of Languages, Akumako Campus.

After her degree course, she became a Language tutor at Labone Senior High School in Accra

Whiles Maa Afia was on vacation. She joined her sister to spend the holidays with her.

One day, her sister sent her to deliver a letter to the General Manager of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), When she reached the office of the General Manager, due to her eloquentness in the Twi dialect, she was told that she was fit for radio production and newscasting.

Someone who has not been trained as a journalist had the opportunity to produce a program on GBC. She became the editor and host of “Awaresem,” a programme aired on Zoe Radio (GBC). She worked with Radio Zoe for some years before she met Dr.Osei Kwame in 1998.

She was influenced by Osei Kwame Despite to join his newly established radio station, Peace FM.

She was advised by her husband not to quit GBC and join Peace FM which is a private firm and can be collapsed at any time.

Maa Afia took a bold decision to join Peace FM as the host of “Wo Haw Ne Sen” as translate to English as “What is your Problem?” ,” ‘Wo Mpomu Te Sen” (how is your health?) and “asomdwoe Nkomo”

Being a counsellor and having a passion for journalism and humanitarian welfare, she used her platform to solve relationship disputes and promote good health through her invited medical professionals.

She secured job opportunities and scholarships for brilliant but needy students to study in and outside the country.

She also trained a lot of young people in the media space.

As a member of the Presbyterian Church,Maa Afia played a key role in the church women’s fellowship and impacted a lot of lives with her vibrant leadership role.

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She retired as a broadcaster on her 65th birthday. Nana Yaa Konadu took over as the host of ‘WO HAW NE SEN’ and ‘APOMUDEN NKOMO’

Maa Afia, a trained teacher and an accidental broadcaster, died of short illness on May 1, 2019.

The legacy of Maa Afia Konadu still remains.