“Whatever you are doing, do it with determination. You have one life to live; this means you have to do your work with passion and also give your best at all times. Whether you want to be a chef, doctor, actor, or a mother, be passionate to get the best result,” those were the words of Ghanaian actress and television personality, Benedicta Gafah when I enquired what has kept her going.
Benedicta has been on the spotlight on several occasions for both the good and not-so-good reasons. Choosing to accept the role of a co-host of Music Music on Ghana’s leading television station hasn’t been easy for the actress. In spite of being a new terrain for her which will require sometime to settle in, her critics on a weekly basis are quick to troll her for any grammatical slips.
But while her fault finders may be having a field day ridiculing her shortcomings, the Odo Asa actress remained unfazed and rather seized the opportunity to sharpen her hosting skills. To her, it’s an opportunity to hone her skill and prepare herself for a bigger task in the future.
And while at it, Benedicta revealed that “there is growth in every sphere of our lives and I believe with time, we get better and gain grounds. For my critics, I would say their comments challenge me to get better at what I’m doing.”
She added that “they challenge me to do more to get to the top. I’m not bothered by the negative comments, rather they keep me focused. You see, I enjoy what I’m doing and for this reason, I am open to constructive criticisms which will make me a better person.”
Talking about her roles at the Media General Group where she co-hosts Music Music on TV3 and Girlz Kasa on Onua TV, she said: “I love it at Media General, great people and great reception. I strongly believe that there is room for growth and expansion and I am not stopping until that happens.”
According to her “Media General is a brand you will want to be associated with and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this great family. It is a place that makes it possible to learn since the standards are high and you are pushed to aim high and work to be better at all times,” she stated.
Benedicta, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic Communications (PR and Advertising) from the African University College of Communications (AUCC), also agreed that her association with the Media General has influenced her career in the media space.
“The TV3 and Onua TV brands are huge and having a platform as a presenter has boosted my credentials as an actress because I command a larger following now. It is also another opportunity to discover myself in a new way and what my strengths are,” she said.
Switching roles from an actress to a presenter has obviously not been an easy journey for Benedicta, however, she commends her handlers for making her new role easier than she had expected.
“Being on television every weekend in Ghana is a dream come true even though one cannot do away with the pressure that comes with television production and I commend my able and supportive team for the grooming and guidance,” she stated.
Touching on the lessons life has taught her, she said, “the greatest lessons is to learn from our own mistakes. We should endeavour to be better than who we were yesterday and challenge ourselves to be the best tomorrow.”
In wrapping up our conversation, Benedicta indicated that “I will always say that hard work, perseverance and dedication to what you love most can get you where you want to be in life. And I believe with God on our side, being honest, dedicated and committed to whatever you want to do, the sky would always be a stepping stone.”
