Citi FM, one of Ghana’s most influential radio brands, has marked its 21st anniversary with a heartfelt thanksgiving service that celebrated not just longevity, but a story of faith, resilience, and reinvention in the country’s evolving media landscape.
Held at the station’s premises in Accra on Wednesday November 5, the event brought together staff, management, and well-wishers to reflect on Citi FM’s journey — from a bold startup in 2004 to a household name in Ghanaian broadcasting.
From a Dream to a Destiny
General Manager Bernard Avle, who joined Citi FM as a National Service personnel in 2004, retraced the station’s unlikely beginnings. He recalled how Managing Director, Samuel Attah-Mensah (Samens) defied convention by recruiting university students and national service personnel to build a serious English-language radio brand in a market dominated by established giants.
“It didn’t make sense at the time,” Avle said. “But God has been good to us. The first morning show host was a national service person. That’s how it all began — with faith, passion, and a belief that excellence could come from anywhere.”
He recounted the station’s early struggles — from failed events and mosquito-filled concerts to the quiet triumphs that would later define its spirit. “Some of the ideas died,” he admitted, “but others resurrected — like December to Remember and Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO), which became cultural institutions. That’s how God works — through death and resurrection.”
Faith Through Failure and Fame
Avle described Citi FM’s 21-year history as a story of “many deaths and many resurrections.” From losing its newsroom to a rival station in 2011, to earning continental recognition in 2007 when the Citi Breakfast Show was named Africa’s Best Interactive Program by the BBC, each challenge refined the brand’s mission.
“God doesn’t work with formulas,” he said. “The Citi Breakfast Show has had one host for years, but Eyewitness News has changed hands seven times — yet both thrive. That’s because success is not about formulas; it’s about faithfulness.”
He credited the station’s rebranding in 2015 — from A Refreshing Lifestyle to Relevant Radio. Always. — as a turning point. “Relevance, not reputation, keeps you alive,” he said.
Leadership, Loss and Legacy
In a deeply personal reflection, Avle also spoke about Citi FM’s most painful chapter — the year 2022, when he lost his wife and colleague Richard Mensah lost his brother within days. “It was our valley moment,” he said. “But God turned our pain into purpose. Even during that time, this building was coming up. From that sorrow came something beautiful.”
He urged staff to see Citi FM’s 21st anniversary as “three perfect sevens — a divine symbol of completion and renewal,” adding that the station’s continued impact is proof that “this is not our ambition; it is God’s vision.”
‘Time and Chance Happen to Them All’
Managing Director Samuel Attah-Mensah, affectionately called Samens, echoed the theme of divine timing and perseverance. Quoting Ecclesiastes 9:11, he reminded the gathering that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”
“When we started, it wasn’t attractive. We were dismissed and ignored,” he said. “But we knew our mandate. We knew our source. If what you do is of God, it shall be established.”
Attah-Mensah paid tribute to Uncle Nick Amartey, whose vision and investment birthed the station; Seni Adetu, his mentor at Coca-Cola; and Kwesi Twum, founder of Multimedia Group, who first introduced him to broadcasting.
Reflecting on Citi FM’s enduring influence, he said, “It’s not the one who came first or last, but the one who commits to the process. Many have left, but they still reference Citi FM wherever they go — because Citi builds character, not just careers.”
A Testament of Purpose
The service, filled with worship, testimonies, and gratitude, was both nostalgic and forward-looking. It honored the founders’ courage, the staff’s resilience, and the unseen hand of grace that has guided the brand through storms and triumphs alike.
As the gathering rose in worship to close, one message resounded through the airwaves and hearts alike — Citi FM’s story is more than a media success; it’s a testament to faith, endurance, and the unrelenting pursuit of relevance in service to God and country.
