The lady Afia Adutwumwaa Morosa
For many people who listen to radio often, her voice may sound very familiar; others even with time may assume she’s someone they know in person, because of the familiarity with her voice.
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Afia Adutwumwaa Morosa is one of the popular Akan newscasters Peace FM takes pride in. Her eloquence and command over the Twi language has won the hearts of numerous listeners of the station.
Afia is also a regular character on the debate sector of Fiifi Banson’s Okwan So Brebre programme every week day on Peace FM.
Alongside the likes of Odi Ahenkan, Mickey Darling, Kwabena Marfo, Victoria and a few others, they debate and discuss important social issues in a hilarious yet educative manner.
The programme has over the years grown to be one of the most listened to on radio. Although we listen to them almost every day on radio, we can hardly make them out in real life because unlike TV presenters, we don’t see them do their work.
Times Weekend (TW) caught up with Afia to have a one-on-one chat with her…..
TW: How’s life on radio been for you?
Afia: Very interesting, I’m sure you have been listening to our programme on Peace Fm, it’s educating and very entertaining
TW: Before you come live on radio do you rehearse what to say?
Afia: For our 5:30 programme sometimes we have the chance to rehearse before we go on air but other times our Executive Producer, Fadda Dickson gives us the topic just five minutes before we go on air, so we just roll. I think because we have done it for a long time, so we are used to it.
TW: How long have you been doing this?
Afia: I think about three years now
TW: Is radio something you had always wanted to do?
Afia: Yes, it has been with me since childhood.
TW: Have you trained professionally for it?
Afia: I hold a Diploma in Communications from African University College Of Communications and I’m currently doing my degree.
TW: So is it something you want to do for a long time?
Afia: Hmmm…..Time would tell, at the moment I can’t tell, but maybe in the future I might move into public relations.
TW: Oh… ok…, you seem to have a good command of the Twi language, did you study that in school too or it’s natural?
Afia: I did a little Twi back in secondary school as an Elective subject, but after that I haven’t studied Twi again.
TW: Sometimes there are some words in English which are complex, but you are still able to translate them.
Afia: Yeah it comes naturally; once you are given the script, it just flows. For instance, the script we use for news is written in English and we do live translation on air.
TW: Then it means you have to be good in English; but from afar, it looks like those who read the news in Twi rather don’t understand English?
Afia: It’s true… Personally, if you write a script for me in Twi, I can’t read it live; I would be fumbling but when it’s in English, I can easily do live translation.
TW: Is the job paying well?
Afia: (laughing heartily)… You are also in the same profession so I know you have an idea… (Still laughing) I would say it’s OK to keep us going. But on the other side too, I’m sometimes invited to emcee social programmes and that also fetches some income.
TW: Eeeei, then you are really making money
Afia: … You can’t host a programme for free; at least you would charge something
TW: Ok… How did you get to Peace Fm?
Afia: I was working for Radio Mercury in Kumasi, when I was approached by Peace FM and I accepted. I started radio right after leaving secondary school, so I was at Mercury for about three years before finally moving to Peace FM.
TW: Fortunately for you on radio, people don’t easily make you out, are you under any pressure to lead a kind of “celebrity” life?
Afia: Yea, we don’t have that kind of pressure, but sometimes when I pick a role in our radio show which is negative or not too good, people who know me personally confuse the roles with my personality and call to criticize. Because of how real we present the cases, some people think it’s our real life stories. But I always explain that they are just roles we are playing.
TW: How is your day at work like, apart from reading the news and appearing on your 5:30 show. what else do you do?
Afia: I also report like other journalists do, however, because I’m in school, I don’t usually go out for programmes.
TW: Afia,are you married?
Afia: no……. I’m single.
TW: Ok, Afia thanks for making time for us and we wish you all the best…your last words.
Afia: I want to say thank you to all my listeners and fans; to all those who keep calling and encouraging us ,we are very grateful for the love and support.
Source: The Ghanaian Times