Address by Kwasi Twum @ MGL Thanksgiving Branch

This is the unedited text of my mentor Kwasi Twum at the 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Branch of Multimedia Group Limited. What a man, enjoy a rare piece – you don’t hear him speak publicly his works precedes him.

Afehyia pa! Good morning, and thanks for making time to join us

It is a great delight to see old friends again, to fellowship and break bread at the beginning of a New Year.

More importantly, it is wonderful to have lovely people like you join us to rejoice and appreciate the goodness and favor of God as we begin the celebration of our 20th anniversary.

As I look back and reflect on the past 20 years … from the conception, incubation of the idea to launch Joy FM to what we have become now … I’m so, so amazed at what God has done.  This is exceedingly above and far beyond my founding ambition. I am humbled.

I believe  Psalm 40: verse 5 illustrates my exact sentiments 

“Many, my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Today, The Multimedia Group has grown to become the largest Independent Media and Entertainment Group delivering large audience communities on multiple platforms for targeted advertising.

We deliver multiple touch points of consumer media experiences on our radio brands and over 80 affiliates across the country;

Multi TV reaches the remotest hamlets in Ghana and across much of West and Central Africa by satellite – potentially delivering Ghanaian businesses like yours the prized Nigerian market; and also the European market via the ABN channel. With over two million boxes Multi TV already accounts for 97.7% of satellite TV reception in Ghana.

Our multiple online brands and social media assets are sought after and consumed nationally and on every continent.

And at our numerous events, which have become icons of the social calendar, your brands and consumers are brought together in an atmosphere that conjures up emotional melding as no other platform can.

Each day a greater proportion of the population, i.e. millions of your potential consumers interact with one or more of our Media and Entertainment Assets

Today, Multimedia is touching and transforming lives with our social interventions like the Easter Soup Kitchen – feeding and providing health care to thousands of street kids; The Educare initiative – providing financial assistance to hundreds of needy but bright students.

Our fiercely independent Journalists are at the forefront of exposing negative and unprogressive social norms and behavior, and leading in the fight to expose and stop acts of commission and omission that hold back and dehumanize our people.

The team of 12, twenty years ago has multiplied to team of over 600 – so you can now understand why we believe, that Christ has been and still is @ work in Multimedia

For us, it not just an inscription on our hallways, it is our Reality.  We are truly the outcome of His goodness

I know some will say ‘Well Kwasi you have been lucky’; others may say, ‘Isn’t it hard work combined with business smarts?’

There may be some of that, but if any one of you here is a betting person, please work this out for me.

What are the odds that you would name your business Multimedia when all you were thinking of was setting up a radio station?  I had no idea then, of online media as a business, I had not dreamt of operating TV, and of course, this being 1994, social media had not even been invented, if invented is the word.

What are the odds, that in 1994, as we struggled to get even a hint of attention to our application at the then National Frequency and Control Board and were being told that the legal framework wasn’t even in place for private broadcasting, Dr. Wireko-Brobey ( aka Tarzan) and a few maverick friends would shake up the government and break down the barriers for private broadcasters by launching the pirate radio station Radio Eye?

My friends… what are the odds that one would even contemplate choosing a student who rode on a motor scooter reporting traffic news in Accra over a 20 year veteran radio presenter who was immensely adored by the audience to host our prime and most valuable morning show?

Of course, Komla Dumor… (May his soul rest in peace) went on to become a world class show host and face of Africa around the world.

By the way, what about being planted in the  hyper-competitive Makola  environment right after college and how that equips you to compete with some 400 radio stations, over 50 TV stations and millions of online media competitors several years later?

Don’t tell me it just happened by chance. I believe God was ordering our steps.

I’m fully persuaded that each one of you and your businesses  have been divinely located on our path during this challenging  20 year journey which has been made rewarding with your invaluable support and partnership.

I thank you.

Thank you, for entrusting  The Multimedia Group with your mandate to build, maintain and grow your brands, and thank you, for choosing us to drive your sales agenda.

We never could have come this far without you.

This 20^th anniversary year, we remember and applaud all the people who have contributed to our success thus far:

Our illustrious Board of Directors, for their guidance,

An amazing Team who perform fantastically to grow and maintain our market leadership

A discerning audience community who have always inspired us,

Our vendors, for supporting us,

Our competitors, who challenge us daily to justify our leadership,

Thank you.

I would like to especially thank the following people for embracing the vision

Mr Alex Banful, GSMF

Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Mrs Norkor Duah and Team Lintas, for being the first Agency to give us a job.

Mr Noble Asare formerly of STB McCann

Mr. Kofi Quakyi

Mr. Emmanuel Addo  – AD MEDIA

Mr. Syl Kowurnoo  – ADS

The venerable Mr. Isaac Quartey

The late Daniel Twum Jnr, Mr. Willam Sam and Mr. Joel Nettey, all formerly of the Unicorn Group

My mother, Maa Gifty, and my partner for life, my dear wife Esta, who has been by my side since 1984. Esta, I never could have made it without you

Finally, to everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey, we hug you and thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Friends, when I begun this journey I was in my thirties. Today I’m in my fifties.

By the grace of God I know we shall all gather again in 30 years to celebrate our Golden Jubilee

I will be in my 80s then, but this I know: my confident assurance in Jesus that

We shall grow young together;

We shall grow in strength even as we age;

We shall all grow in good health, in wellness.

We shall grow in stature and honor;

We shall grow in wisdom;

We shall all grow in wealth;

Our businesses will grow in prosperity

Our families will grow with us… Esta and I look forward to hanging out with our great grandchildren

Because those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

Thank you, and God Bless.

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