Joel Orleans
A massive shake-up at YFM 107.9 has seen renowned on-air personalities like Caroline Sampson, Naa Adzorkor Addo (Ms. Naa) and Joel Orleans saying bye-bye to the Accra-based radio station.
All three personalities, who announced their exit on Friday, are among some eight presenters, including Blaque Boy, who allegedly lost their jobs at YFM.
Ms. Naa, who worked with the station for almost 11 years, was replaced with Brown Berry on the Rhyse & Shyne morning programme, while Joel Orleans’s Dryve Of Ur Lyf Show has been taken over by Kojo Manuel.
Caroline’s Shouts On Y in the afternoons till 3:00pm is now hosted by Winston Michaels.
The exits come as a surprise to many observers of the radio station.
According to Ms. Naa and Caroline, their contracts with the station have ended; hence their exit. Joel, on the other hand, disclosed that he was “fired”.
“Guys, YFM has been my home for close to a decade now and we’ve had a successful working relationship. Effective immediately, my contract with YFM has ended and I’m no longer their employee. Thank you to YFM and everyone that has supported my career over the years. Shalom,” Caroline tweeted on Friday.
“After 11 yrs of knocking out the competition, my time with my family at YFM has come to an end. Sad though I might be, I enjoyed every minute of it and I’m by no means done. Look for your girl cos imma be out there kickin ass and taking names..,” Ms. Naa also tweeted.
Joel Orleans, born Joel Amponsah, said he is hurt by the unexpected termination of his contract.
“I just got fired from YFM,” he first tweeted, but added, “Technically my contract was terminated, so I wasn’t fired, cos if I was fired that means I did something wrong.”
“I’d be lying if I said I ain’t gutted about the exit, but everything happens for a reason. I strongly believe that this is not the end but the beginning of greater things to come. It’s time for others to get the opportunities we had when we started. I fully support that cause,” Joel also indicated.
By Francis Addo