Francis Abban–The New Morning Voice of Starr FM

Listeners of Starr FM woke up to a new voice on February 14, 2017. The fresh, daring, young and passionate voice has brought some aura of change on the Morning Starr.

“I am looking forward to have Morning Starr become the leader and new standard in radio breakfast shows,” that is how the new host of Starr FM’s morning flagship show – the Morning Starr – Francis Abban succinctly encapsulated his aspiration.

Abban, who grew up in three cities – Koforidua, Kumasi and Takoradi – hopes to use the Starr 103.5 FM platform to “engineer development at all levels of society.”

Abban is not new to the radio industry, albeit his age. The proud native of Saltpond in the Central region of Ghana has gone through the mill to reach the pinnacle of radio show.

The ‘Bleoo boy’ – a moniker given to a former student of Accra Academy – describes himself as a “dedicated passionate man with a vision to redefine morning radio in Ghana.”

“I firmly believe that the media today must engineer development at all levels of society. And that’s why I have chosen this profession above all else,” Abban, who trained as a journalist at the nation’s premier media training outfit, the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) remarked.

EARLY LIFE

Abban lived with a real disciplinarian he affectionately called Aunty Ceccy (of blessed memory) in Koforidua during his nursery days at the Queen of Glory Nursery. He later moved with his parents to Kumasi where he continued his basic school at the Maria Montessori School at Kwadaso.

“Those were interesting times where my love for reading aloud earned me praise and accolades from my friends. A few years later I made my last transfer in basic school to Takoradi where I attended the Ridge International School.

“After completing my junior secondary education, I chose to pursue my senior secondary education at Accra Academy,” Abban opined.

But why will a native of the Central region opt for a second cycle school in the capital – Accra – when his region boasts of first class institutions bequeathed from Ghana’s colonial masters, the British.

He explained: “That was a distinct choice considering all my friends and classmates were religiously committed to attending the best schools in Cape Coast. In my family you’d find many young boys keen to make it to Mfantsipim School, Adisadel College and St. Augustine’s College. But a casual chat with a teacher about Accra Academy and how the school passes through you by the time you are done got me relishing the prospect of securing that kind of education and upbringing which will shape my view of the world forever.

“After three years of learning, thrills, exuberance and commitment, I completed that chapter of academic life and got home awaiting my results.”

JOB HUNT

It has not been all rubicund for the budding morning show host. Abban could cut for an expert in job application letters and CV writing. He recalled the gruelling moments he went through prior to landing his first media job as a rookie.

“In that period, I was desperate to not stay home idling and with a father who will always stress the need to achieve, I went job searching. Somehow I could think only of one job, working with a radio station.

“Living in the relatively close knit twin city Sekondi-Takoradi, the options were limited with a few slots for a young boy with no work experience to secure a job. After weeks of visiting receptions and virtually begging for an opportunity, I had a call from Mr Wilson Arthur, the CEO of the SKyy Media Group to come and work with SKyy 93.5 FM,” the broadcaster recalled with some nostalgic feelings.

“Those months defined my career. With persons who had years of experience and the invention to create compelling news in an environment where everyone knew who lived five blocks away was surreal.

“I was somehow always attracted to the task of heading into the remote areas of the region to tell stories of people struggling to survive. By the time I was ready to pursue tertiary education, I was clear in my mind that the art of journalism was meant for me.

Ghana Institute of Journalism was my choice for my next step academically. As I pursued a Diploma in communication studies, I was intrigued by the diversity of the media in Accra and the prospects available.”

Abban remained in the capital after GIJ. It was almost like a déjà vu prior to joining SKyy Media. Eventually, the radar at the Multimedia Group spotted him and after digging into their work ethos he put pen to paper.

“After some work with some organizations to write for newsletters and other research work, I made a pitch to join the Multimedia Group. Truth is I applied to almost every media available and attended a series of interviews. In the end, Joy FM gave me the opportunity to unleash my talent.

“In five years I rose through the ranks from a reporter to host of a number of shows on Multimedia platforms.”

At Multimedia, Abban presented the Midday News on Accra-based Joy FM, The Pulse late afternoons on Joynews, as well as BBC Two Way; a partnership between Joy FM and the international broadcaster to project what major issues are discussed during the week –a programme he has hosted since 2013.

He was also co-host of the AM Show, and then the Super Morning Show.

Abban left the Kokomlemle edifice in December 2016 and opened a new career chapter with the young and vibrant Excellence in Broadcasting (EIB) Network as Deputy Editor of the GHOne Newsroom.

In less than a month at EIB Network, the ‘Superman’ has added another feather in his cap as the man in charge of the early morning hot seat – the Morning Starr. His dream is to make the show the standard of morning radio in Ghana.

“Nothing is impossible to achieve if you are passionate about it,” a determined Abban ended.