When Abena Opokua Ahwenee steps behind the microphone, the airwaves come alive, not just with sound, but with soul.
A vibrant, fearless and spirited radio host, Abena commands the attention of thousands each morning on Adom FM’s flagship show, Dwaso Nsem, where she co-hosts the news segment with wit, warmth, and an unflinching sense of purpose.
But behind the bubbly voice and on-air banter is a woman forged by grit, grace, and a remarkable journey of persistence.
Born Opokua Patience, her passion for radio burned bright long before formal training or accolades.
Straight after Senior High School, Abena, who loves to be addressed as Ahwenee, traded the usual route for a radio studio, starting her journey at Life FM in Nkawkaw, reading the news and learning the ropes the hard way.
From there, her path looped through Hi FM, Agoo FM, and Dadi FM, where she rose to the role of Head of Station.
But not all chapters in Ahwenee’s story were pleasant.
One of the darkest moments of her life came when she was unjustly dismissed from Hi FM by a station director after she refused his inappropriate advances, a painful but defining moment that tested her spirit and refined her mission.
“I cried and cried,” she admits. “But I never gave up. I had rented a three-year apartment and only stayed nine months, yet I held on.”
That experience didn’t break her. It became the fire in her voice, the truth in her storytelling, and the authenticity that her audience loves her for today.
Abena Ahwenee is a genre-bending powerhouse. While she thrives on hard-hitting political and social journalism, she spices it up with humour and realness that speaks to the everyday Ghanaian.
Her news delivery is sharp, her analysis deeply insightful, and her sense of humour? Simply addictive.
But make no mistake; beneath the charm is a journalist anchored in integrity. “As a journalist, truth is non-negotiable,” she says. “I hold leaders accountable, not because it’s easy, but because the people deserve honesty, transparency, and results.”
Abena’s works have not gone unrecognised and rightfully so.
She has been crowned with accolades such as:
- Eastern Regional Best News Caster (Foklex Media Awards, 2016/2017)
- Female Newscaster of the Year (Foklex Media Awards, 2017/2018)
- Ghana Outstanding Woman in Radio (GOWA Awards, 2022)
- Female Radio Personality of the Year (Diamond Excellence Awards, 2022 and Konama’s Entertainment Awards, 2023)
Abena’s voice doesn’t just dominate the dial; it resonates across TikTok, where she boasts over 21,000 followers, and Facebook, where she commands over 25,000 followers and every minute, fans flock to these platforms for her bold takes, hilarious skits, and community engagement.
Despite a rocky start, including practising with funeral posters in her bedroom just to master long-form announcements, she pushed herself into mastery.
“One day I got caught removing a poster that wasn’t past its date,” she recalls with laughter. “I had to kneel and beg. But I was determined.”
One other thing that defines Abena is compassion, as today, she’s not just informing the public, she’s impacting lives through her Opokua Ahwenee Foundation; she leads outreach in rural Ghana, focusing on health and education.
Her dream? To establish pad banks in underserved communities and tour university campuses to inspire young women with her story of resilience.
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Ghana, Ahwenee is preparing for a greater impact on air, online, and on the ground, following her diploma and bachelor’s degree in Communications.
Her mantra? A bold quote from Christiane Amanpour:
“We are not here to be liked. We are here to be trusted.”
And trusted, she is. Loved, even more so.
Abena Opokua Ahwenee is more than just a radio host. She’s a movement. A fighter. A truth-teller with rhythm, and a woman whose voice carries the weight and the joy of the people.
To listen to Abena on the radio, tune in to Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem every weekday from 5:45 am to 10:30 am. You can also catch Abena on Adom Kasea on Adom TV.
Adom Online
