Entertainment of Thursday, 12 June 2014

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ghana’s biggest ‘Drive Time’ host Bola Ray takes a bow from Joy FM

Nat Kwabena Adisi known in showbiz circles as Bola Ray has paid a glowing tribute to Joy Fm’s Boss-Kwesi Twum as he takes a bow, ending his remarkable 11 years of service to the company as one of Ghana’s finest radio personalities.

With excitement about what the future holds for him, the CEO of Empire Group of Companies confirmed his exit saying, everything that has a beginning has an end - and that, taking up new challenges in life has always been his source of inspiration.

The Host of Drive Time on Joy FM, Ghana’s most listened to late afternoon radio show did not give further details as to his next line of radio career but being the head of one of the fastest growing companies in Ghana, Empire - with several business ventures including a radio station in Takoradi, it is expected that Bola Ray’s voice will stay in the airwaves but on another frequency, probably in Accra.

For such an outstanding radio host to leave Joy Fm, there is no doubt Bola Ray’s resignation will create an ‘indelible’ gap on the station’s airwaves. Whoever may step into his shoes will be able to only go as far as possible but cannot completely fill in the huge gap.

Definitely, listeners of Joy Fm will miss his unique voice and presenting style but we hope to be able to flip our dial and catch him up somewhere soon - else, his greatness will be missing from the late afternoon radio waves in Ghana.

Biography

Bola Ray was born on March 1, 1977. His life is a story of determination, persistence honesty and success. He is one of the entertainment industry’s most successful and respected personalities who will stop at nothing to see his dream wheel rise nonstop.

He is married with 2 beautiful children and is a staunch Christian. He had his Secondary Education at Accra Academy. Afterwards, he moved on to the School of Administration, University of Ghana, Legon (now the University of Ghana Business School). In his second year at the University, he enrolled at the Central University College where he studied Business Administration.

He worked first as presenter on Radio Universe, and then moved to TOP Radio where he became the host of TOP City Jam.

In 2003, he moved to Joy Fm to become the host of the Drive Time Show and has made it the most influential drive time show on radio in Ghana today. He is the first African to have hosted Top of the Pops on BBC Radio.

Bola Ray is also an accomplished entrepreneur and is the Executive Director and founder of EMPIRE Entertainment; which is an events, promotions, public relations, advertising and marketing company registered and operating in Ghana.

He is an MTN brand ambassador as well as an ambassador of the SOS Villages Ghana. He was also awarded as Ghana's Most Popular Showbiz Personality at the City People Excellence Awards 2011 in Nigeria. In April 2011 He was honored at the Vector recognition Awards 2010 as a Professional Radio Presenter for the year 2010.

He also holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration {MBA} at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship (MBA) at Altis Business School, Catholic University of Milan, Italy.

Recently, he became the winner of a 2013 MBA Business Idea Competition. A MBA Business Idea Competition, which was put together by the Altis Business School, Catholic University of Milan, Italy. In 2013, he was awarded as the Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 at the 4th edition of Ghana Entrepreneur Awards.

And at the 24th Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Performance Awards held in 2013, Bola Ray’s Drive Time on Joy Fm was adjudged Radio Programme of the Year.

Bola Ray extends his profound thanks to his Boss-Kwesi Twum, his COO Ekyi Quarm for his direction, Kofi Ansah-his Programs manager for his unending support and all Joy Fm staff members. He added that, they are his family, will continue to be his family and he will forever be indebted to them all, especially Mr. Kwesi Twum.