By Christopher Arko
Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – Mr. Mike Eghan, the legendary broadcaster, has offered insightful advice to emerging broadcasters, highlighting the crucial role discipline played in achieving success in the profession.
During a legacy interview focused on his memoir, The “Emperor’s” Story – From the Centre of the World, where several prominent journalists and media personalities were present, Eghan emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism, discipline, and integrity throughout one’s career.
Drawing from his own illustrious career, which spans over six decades, Mr. Eghan said that those core values were essential for building a long-lasting and respectable career in broadcasting.
Mr. Eghan, who is affectionately known as “The Magnificent Emperor”, urged new presenters to foster an environment where different opinions are welcomed, as this was a key objective of the “Mike Eghan Show.”
The legacy interview, held in Accra, was attended by Kwame Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo”, Kafui Dey, host of GTV’s Breakfast Show, veteran broadcaster and lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning, Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM), a satirist and host of the KSM Show, and many others.
Mr. Eghan’s career, spanning six decades, is rich with milestones.
He began as a disc jockey and later became a renowned radio presenter.
Over the years, he hosted programmes for both the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the BBC World Service in London, making a significant mark in the global media landscape.
His contributions to the Ghanaian music and entertainment scene were also notable, including serving as the host for the historic Soul to Soul concert held at Black Star Square in 1971.
This concert, which brought together prominent African-American artists and Ghanaian musicians, was a landmark cultural event that symbolized Ghana’s rich musical heritage and its connection to the African diaspora.
Mr. Kayi, commended Mr. Eghan’s pioneering role in the media sector, acknowledging that his work set a path for future broadcasters in Ghana.
He described Mr. Eghan as a trailblazer who helped shape the industry and inspired generations of media professionals to follow.
Mr. Foh Amoaning spoke fondly of Mr. Eghan, describing him as a father figure and an inspirational force in his own broadcasting journey.
He highlighted Mr. Eghan’s perfectionism and work ethic, particularly with the “Legendary Fights” programme on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), for which Mr. Eghan served as Executive Producer.
Mr. Sintim-Misa (KSM), also acknowledged the groundbreaking role Mr. Eghan played in the development of broadcasting in Ghana.
He said that Mr. Eghan’s influence inspired his own late-night show, “Thank God It’s Friday,” which debuted in 2002 on Metro TV.
Mike Eghan was born on March 14, 1936, in Sekondi-Takoradi, the fifth of nine siblings.
He was inspired by his father, Ben Eghan, a civil servant with a passion for radio, to pursue a career in broadcasting.
In 1961, despite securing a job with Barclays Bank, Mike chose to follow his passion and joined the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), where he began his legendary journey in the media industry.
Mr. Eghan went to Britain in 1965, where he worked with the BBC Africa Service.
During his time there, he hosted the programme “Music with African Beat” for four years, cementing his reputation as a broadcaster of note.
Mr. Eghan later returned to Ghana, choosing to continue his career with GBC to contribute to the development of his country and raise his children there.
Mr. Eghan’s most famous program, The Mike Eghan Show, which aired in the 1970s, became one of Ghana’s most popular talk shows.
The show hosted influential guests such as Miriam Makeba, Ephraim Amu, and Captain J. H. Tachie-Menson, and offered a platform for stimulating discussions that resonated with audiences across Ghana.
GNA