Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), has revealed that he once worked for renowned Ghanaian business mogul Osei Kwame Despite by selling music cassettes and CDs during his teenage years.
Speaking in an interview with blogger Ghhyper at the launch of Despite’s Auto Museum in East Legon on June 1, 2025, KOD recounted how this early hustle, which began while he was in secondary school, marked his entry into Ghana’s music and entertainment industry.
“When I was a teenager, I used to sell cassettes. I worked from Lumba’s shop, and I worked for Despite. That was my secondary school job. My introduction to the music industry and everything, this is part of the story,” KOD said.
A Journey That Started on the Streets
KOD described his long-standing relationship with Dr. Despite as one rooted in those early years of selling music. According to him, that job helped shape his career path and sparked his passion for the creative industry.
He further revealed that he was initially expected to be one of the founding presenters at Peace FM, one of Ghana’s leading radio stations owned by the Despite Group of Companies. However, he couldn’t join due to his commitments at Radio Gold at the time.
“When Peace FM was being established, I was one of the quiet voices that was going to start, but I was working at Radio Gold, so I couldn’t show my face,” he added.
KOD, widely regarded as a cultural icon and media personality, was recently described as a “cultural ambassador bridging the gap between Ghana and its diaspora” in an official announcement from the Presidency.
