Komla Dumor & Mum’s tomb unveiled
The family of the late BBC broadcaster Komla Dumor has unveiled his tomb at the family house in Accra at a short ceremony to mark the first anniversary of his passing, Saturday the 17th of January 2015. The occasion was also used to unveil the tomb of his mother Mrs Cecilia Dumor who died 5 years ago.
The event was a solemn and simple liturgical celebration, which was celebrated by 3 priests with the Cathedral Choir and the Winneba Youth choir in attendance. The event was preceded by the requiem mass to celebrate the 1st anniversary of Komla’s death. The anniversary of Dumor’s death is being spearheaded by his family and the Komla Dumor Foundation.
The former Super Morning Show Host and Operations Manager of Joy FM died on January 18, 2014 in his London home. Komla was born on October 3, 1972 in Accra to a family of academics.
 His mother, Cecilia, was an educationist, editor and writer of children’s books, and a key influence in encouraging him to take up journalism. His father, Ernest, was a professor of sociology, and his sister, Mawuena, is a geologist, who worked in communications for mining companies. She is currently the CEO for the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).
His grandfather Philip Gbeho was a renowned musician who was asked by the country’s founding father, Kwame Nkrumah, to compose the country’s national anthem following independence in 1957. Komla was said to have inherited Gbeho’s powerful voice and striking physique.
During his time as a radio broadcaster in Ghana, he took pride in his attempts to challenge corruption in the public sector.
 Komla started his broadcasting career on the back of a motor scooter, negotiating the crowded streets of Ghana’s capital, Accra, telling Joy FM listeners how to beat traffic jams and then racing off to attend lectures at the University of Ghana.
By the time Joy FM offered him the role of host of its morning show in 2000, Komla had become a household name. He was named the Journalist of the Year 2003 by the Ghana Journalists Association.
In 2006, Komla moved to London to join the BBC’s Africa service. Three years later, he became the pioneer presenter of Africa Business Report, a monthly BBC World News television programme that took him to different countries on the continent.
With BBC Radio facing stiff competition in Africa, the corporation launched ‘Focus on Africa’, a daily news and current affairs television programme in 2012 and Komla was the natural choice to host it. He fronted it till the day he died.
Asked what he loved about Africa, he once replied: “Its resilience. After all we have been through, we are still here.”
In November 2013, New African magazine named Komla as one of the 100 most influential Africans.
He married Kwansema Quansah, a lawyer, in 2001. She survives him, along with their daughters, Elinam Makafui, Emefa Araba and their son, Elorm Efadzinam.
Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5 FM
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