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Komla Dumor | |||||||||||||
I got into radio after flunking out of medical school, just two years shy of becoming a doctor, but that's a really long story! The short version goes... During a strike by University of Ghana lecturers I saw an ad for a traffic news reporter at local Accra radio station, JOYFM. So I began my career riding a motor scooter through the city and telling people how to beat the traffic. Later I became the station's morning show host and in 2003 I was named Journalist of the Year by the Ghana Journalist Association. I tried to combine the qualities of my broadcasting heroes Walter Cronkite and Chris Tarrant in my years as morning show host. Cronkite because he was the broadcasting icon of my childhood, serious and credible, and Tarrant because he can move a program by the sheer force of his personality. I'm most proud of my work exposing public sector corruption in Ghana; it didn’t make me popular with the politicians but a lot of ordinary people appreciate me for that. My family is the most important thing I have; I'm married to Kwansema, a lawyer, my daughter Elinam Makafui (God has always been there for me, Praise him) is four, my son Elorm Efadzinam (God loves me, he comforts my heart) is one and my two champion Boerboel mastiffs, Bigger and Fafali, complete my domestic set-up. What inspires you? I'm inspired by my mother and father. With the exception of my religious beliefs, I have no better role models than my parents; humble people who taught me the value of self respect and gave me a voracious appetite for learning. Your choice tune for a Saturday night? Me Against the World by Tupac Shakur Your choice of tune for a Sunday morning? Glorious Praise by Commissioned Your Favourite African Novel Native Son by Richard Wright What is your favourite dish? I'm not fussy about food, I'll eat almost anything. What drink would you have with it? Cold Ghanaian beer What's your idea of a perfect night out? Great dinner, nice movie, full moon, open road, relaxing music. What makes you angry? Incompetence presenting itself as excellence. Why do you love Africa? Its resilience. After all we have been through, we are still here. What depresses you about Africa? The lack of any truly selfless leadership and the unwillingness of those who are capable of bringing about some change to get involved in public service. What do you always bring back from a trip home? A good story | LOCAL LINKS  Focus and Network presentersPresenters | |||||||||||||
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