Osei Kwame Despite

Last updated
Despite Kwame Osei
Born2 February 1962
OccupationBusinessman
Known forCEO of Despite Group of Companies
Children Kennedy Asante Osei

Mr. Osei Kwame Despite (born 2 February 1962) is a Ghanaian entrepreneur and a philanthropist with a foundation in music creation and knowledge of the broadcasting sector. [1] Osei-Kwame is the CEO of the Despite Firm Ltd, a trade company with subsidiaries in the media industry, including UTV, Peace FM, Okay FM, Neat FM and Hello FM in Kumasi. [2] [3] [4] [5] He was named Africa Entrepreneur of the Year at the African Achievers Awards in the United Kingdom in 2021. [6] [5] He was also honored with GH CAPTAIN's Award in 2019 for his contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. [7]

Contents

Early life

In the Ghanaian town of Wiamoase, he was born, in the Ashanti region. He began his career as a merchant in Dunkwa-On-Offin, Ghana's Central Region, selling music cassettes, feeding bottles, padlocks, and other items. After years of struggling to make ends meet in the countryside, he and his colleagues relocated to Lagos, Nigeria. [8]

In 1983, he returned to Ghana with other Ghanaians who had fled Nigeria due to the country's political unrest. Back to his country, he only had a trident cassette player and a chain-saw machine. He started a timber contracting business with the chain-saw machine, but it was smashed by a falling tree on his first business trip. [9] He eventually moved on to selling cassette tapes before diversifying his business. [10] [11]

Career

To show his support for the local music industry and to prioritize Ghanaian culture, he moved into radio and founded the PeaceFM at Achimota Mile 7 Junction in 1999. [2] The station's experiments with the Akan language paid off, as radio listeners looking for local programming abandoned stations broadcasting primarily in the Queen's language on the 104.3 frequency.[ citation needed ] The radio industry flourished, culminating in the establishment of Hello FM in Kumasi and OkayFM in Accra, as well as peacefmonline.com. [12]

List of Companies [13]

Now, the Despite Group of Companies (DGC) has the following companies;

Personal life

Despite has a wife and nine children. Kennedy Osei Asante, his first son, is the General Manager of Despite Media. [17] In 2019, he married Tracy in an expensive ceremony that drew the attention of many people both inside and outside the country. [18] [19] [20] He is noted for collecting luxurious vehicles and has a great love for exotic cars. [21] He purchased a 3'000'000$ Bugatti Chiron in February 2022 to mark his 60th birthday, making him and Fkay one of just 5 individuals in Africa who own a Bugatti. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum</span> Building, park and museum in Ghana

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum is located in downtown Accra, the capital of Ghana. Over the years, the park has attracted visitors from around the world, with an annual count of approximately 98,000 individuals who visit to pay homage to Ghana's first President, and learn about his life and legacy. As one of the top 10 most visited sites in the country, the park holds immense cultural and historical significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Oil Company</span> State-Owned Oil company based in Ghana

GOIL PLC formerly known as GOIL Company Limited (GOIL) and Ghana Oil Company and also known as GOIL, is a state-owned Ghanaian oil and gas marketing company, formed on 14 June 1960. Currently it holds the place of Ghana's top oil marketing company, and is the only indigenous owned petroleum marketing company in Ghana.

The use of new media in Ghana like elsewhere is growing. The Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector, which is based on a free market approach, has promoted new media use. Most popular aspects of new media to Ghanaians is the Internet, and its associated mobile and desktop applications for education, health, politics, business, publishing, governance and so on. Also popular is the use of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets and computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameyaw Debrah</span> Ghanaian celebrity blogger

Ameyaw Kissi Debrah, who is known professionally as Ameyaw Debrah, is a Ghanaian celebrity blogger, freelance journalist, and reporter. He founded AmeyawDebrah.com, an entertainment website and blog that primarily publishes news about Ghanaian celebrities. He graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in publishing. While at KNUST, he won the Best Publishing Student award in 2005. He has made significant contributions to several pan-African websites, including Jamati.com, Orijin-ent.com, and ModernGhana.com.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivor Greenstreet</span> Ghanaian politician and lawyer (born 1966)

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet (born 31 May 1966) is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He was the Presidential candidate for the Convention People's Party (CPP) in the 2020 Ghanaian general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Kaledzi</span>

Isaac Kaledzi is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, broadcast journalist, radio personality, and blogger who is the founder and CEO of Africa Feeds Media Limited, a Pan-African media brand. He currently works for Deutsche Welle as their African correspondent while being based in Ghana. He previously worked for the Ghanaian radio station Starr FM Ghana as an editor.

Sandra Ankobiah is a Ghanaian lawyer, TV host and entrepreneur.

Eugene Kwame Marfo, who goes by the stage name Kuami Eugene is a Ghanaian High-life and Afrobeat singer-songwriter and record producer. He is signed to Lynx Entertainment and Empire Distribution and is known for several songs, including "Angela", "Wish Me Well", "Ohemaa", "Wa Ye Wie" and many others. He won the Unsung and New Artist awards in 2017 and 2018 from the Ghana Music Awards respectively, and the Ghana Music Awards UK. He also received the Most Promising Artist in Africa award from AFRIMA / LYNXGHANA. In 2019, Kwame Eugene received 7 nominations at the Ghana Music Awards and went on to win the awards for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Highlife Artist of the Year. He was crowned Artist of the Year and High-life Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Ankomah</span> Ghanaian actress

Martha Ankomah is a Ghanaian film actress and entrepreneur.

Joseph Albert Quarm popularly known as Prof. Quarm is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Manso-Nkwanta Constituency in the Ashanti Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Henrietta Okyere Twum, popularly known as Maa Afia Konadu, was a Ghanaian media personality known for hosting a mid-morning show, "Asomdwe Nkomo" on Peace FM. She left Peace FM after working for 10 years. She was nominated for the Radio Female Presenter of the Year at the 2013 Radio and Television Personality Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berla Mundi</span> Ghanaian media personality

Berlinda Addardey, popularly known as Berla Mundi, in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana to the parent Mama Ruby Mundi of Accra. She is a Ghanaian media personality, women's advocate and voice artist. In 2019, she co-hosted the 20th VGMA with Kwami Sefa Kayi. She has co-hosted the VGMA for six consecutive times.

Akua Sarpong-Ayisa is a Ghanaian entrepreneur. She founded and operates the floral company "Unique Floral" which operates across West Africa. She was listed as one of Glitz 100 Inspirational Women, WomanRising's 100 Most Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana in 2016 and 2017.

Kwame Awuah-Darko is a Ghanaian politician, entrepreneur and a banker. He is the 3rd son of the late Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem I, who reigned as the Nkosuohene of Asante Juaben traditional area in the Ashanti Region of Ghana from June 1985 till his demise on November 25, 2005.

Charles Allen Gyimah (1939–2014) was a Ghanaian traditional leader, politician, film maker, and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Video City Limited, a video production company which was situated in Accra and Mampong.

Constance Elizabeth Swaniker is a Ghanaian sculptor, educator, and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Accent & Arts and also the founder of Design and Technical Institute (DTI) in Accra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nana Kwame Bediako</span> Ghanaian real estate entrepreneur

Nana Kwame Bediako known as Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar is a Ghanaian businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Kwarleyz Group focused on real estate, finance and property management in West Africa. Bediako is the developer of Wonda World Estate and the proposed Petronia City. He is the founder of New Africa Foundation focusing on less fortunate children providing medical, nutritional and educational support. He contested as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 Ghanaian general election.

Kennedy Osei Asante is a Ghanaian lawyer and businessman.

Anthony Osarfo is a Ghanaian journalist and screenwriter known for feature-genre writing in supernatural horror.

Ohene Kwame Frimpong is a Ghanaian entrepreneur and politician. He is the member of parliament for the Asante-Akyem North constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

References

  1. ↑ "Social media celebrates Kwame Despite as he turns 60 - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  2. 1 2 "Osei Kwame Despite, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  3. ↑ Online, Peace FM. "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Dr. Osei Kwame Despite Celebrates His 60th Birthday In Grand Style". Peacefmonline - Ghana news. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  4. ↑ Larnyoh, Magdalene Teiko (2021-04-24). "One of Ghana's millionaires, Osei Kwame Despite, prays for the country to have more rich men". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. 1 2 "Dr. Osei Kwame Despite Crowned African Entrepreneur Of The Year At The African Achievers Awards Ceremony In The UK - Ghanajoint.com". 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  6. ↑ Essel-Lamptey, Vida (2021-12-11). "Osei Kwame Despite is African Entrepreneur of the Year". GhanaPlus. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  7. ↑ "Osei Kwame 'Despite', Ernest Ofori Sarpong, others to be honoured at GH CAPTAIN'S Award". The Ghana Guardian News. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  8. ↑ "From a Cassette Seller to a Media Mogul: The Success Story of Kwame Despite". Ghana Talks Business. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  9. ↑ "Osei Kwame Despite, Biography".
  10. ↑ Annang, Evans (2020-09-23). "This is how Osei Kwame Despite makes and spends his money". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  11. ↑ "Dr. Osei Kwame Despite Biography | Profile | Ghana". www.peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  12. ↑ "The list of businesses owned by Osei Kwame Despite". Myinfo Ghana. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  13. ↑ "Dr. Osei Kwame Despite Crowned African Entrepreneur Of The Year At The African Achievers Awards Ceremony In The UK - Ghanajoint.com". 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  14. ↑ "U2 Company Limited". Ghana Mom-rsf. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  15. ↑ "Neat Foods Company Limited". GEPA Buyer Portal. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  16. ↑ "Atona foods company limited,Tesano | Accra - Ghana". toptradefairs. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  17. ↑ "You're the king and love of my life - Tracy honours Kennedy Osei and Damon Osei the founder of Youth In Business". GhanaWeb. 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  18. ↑ "Here Are All The 9 Children of Osei Kwame Despite - Georgeweb". 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  19. ↑ "Personality Profile of Kennedy Osei Asante | Accra Mail". 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  20. ↑ "Kennedy Osei: School, houses, cars, businesses, family etc-Here's everything you need to know". GhPage. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  21. ↑ "Osei Kwame Despite, Biography".
  22. ↑ "Ghana: Bugatti Chiron breaks down; crowd tries in vain to push-start it". 29 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.