Ghanaian media personality, Kofi Okyere Darko popularly known as KOD has disclosed that while he was growing up, he was a 360 creative person.
He further revealed that he used to make so much noise in the neighborhood when he was young but his mom never liked creative people like him.
“Typical of mothers, my mother didn’t want me to become anything creative. She wanted a son who would be a Lawyer, maybe a Doctor, an Architect, or something like that. And all she saw was a 360 creative person”, KOD said.
He recalled when the then minister and Secretary of Education, Joyce Aryee visited them at home and his mom reported him to her. “‘Your nephew does not want to do anything with his life, he’s only into stuff about concerts’. They did not appreciate creative people. It’s only changing now. The narrative is changing now. Some of us had to sacrifice”, he said.
KOD recounted how his media journey began when he had to work with Daddy Lumba after vacation during his secondary days.
“In my meetings, one of the things I did very often was to work whenever I was on vacation from secondary school. This introduced me to many musicians in those days, you know Oheneba Kissi, and Charles Mensah, who liked me so much. Meeting all these guys and also having that passion and zeal for music in my adolescent life, I decided to probably get into music production maybe or something like that”.
KOD
He revealed that he didn’t do too well in his O’Level maths, adding that creatives lack so much in maths and science.
KOD asserted that most of his family members are people with science backgrounds, and even though some are very well endowed in the creative space and have science backgrounds, he was just a 360 artist.
“I have a relative that I have so much respect for, Kwesi Kyei Darkwa, and my father knows that I hold him in a very special place. In my quest not to disappoint them, I got that done again [wrote O’Level maths], and then I started working very close to him as a copywriter. He had an advertising company called KDS, and then we started KKD45 where I was the Production Assistant, and that’s how I got into the media space… Then I got to Radio Gold in 1996. I think I was about 18 years old then”.
KOD
KOD switching to NDC
KOD has vowed never to vote for the incumbent NPP party after all the hardships he has gone through.
He explained that the NPP administration has failed Ghanaians which has made life very difficult and expensive. He went ahead to state that he will vote for the opposing NDC party in the upcoming 2024 elections.
“I supported NPP in the last election, but in 2024, I’m voting for NDC”, KOD asserted.
He further stated that one of the reasons he supported President Akuffo-Addo’s campaign was because he saw that it would have been the best time in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian broadcaster said he never really considered marriage while growing up, disclosing that he did not want to let go of his freedom. He said while growing up, his parents were permissive, which gave him the space to make his own choices with parental guidance when needed.
“My parents were not hard on me, I didn’t have a regimented life, just live your life, as in when you went wrong, they would correct you. Forever I wanted to just be in the air and fly like a bird”, KOD said.
He revealed that he married his current wife, Ophelia Crossland due to the influence of his sisters and friends. According to him, anytime his friends met him and Ophelia, they always complimented on how they would look good together.
KOD who also doubles as the CEO of the clothing line, ‘Nineteen 57’ said that his wife has been very supportive and influential in his life.
“She has changed me in so many ways, as growing up she has taught me to be subtle in the things I wear. You know that saying, behind every great man there is always that woman. I don’t know if because she is not so tall, but she is right behind me and you can’t see her but she is the one who pulls all the strings, keeps me very grounded”.
KOD
However, KOD revealed that Bola Ray’s handling of his exit from EIB Network left their relationship in a mess. He revealed that he was not paid for 6 months.
According to him, he worked for six months without getting paid and most of the employees were facing the same issue.
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