Miss Franca Efe Plange is a final year undergraduate student of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). She is 22 years of age and reading English.
She won the Best Female Student Journalist award of the 2011/2012 academic year. She hosts Community Watch, Health Talk, and is a Prime Time News reader for Focus FM 94.3MHz (campus radio station for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi).
Franca is currently the Entertainment Chairperson of Africa Hall (the only all female Hall of the University).
myJCR exposes her beyond KNUST campus. We interviewed this rising star in her room at Africa Hall, KNUST and below is what ensued:
myJCR (m). Franca (F)
m: Tell us briefly about yourself.
F: Well, Franca Efe Plange is my name. I am a Fanti from Saltpond, Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. I had my secondary education at Aburi Girls Senior High School in the Eastern Region.
m: Was English at KNUST what you preferred?
F: English has been my favourite subject since primary school and Literature is the most interesting course I have ever come across so far. I actually want to be a journalist thus bought Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) admission forms after school. I also bought KNUST admission forms because I wasn’t sure of the best thing to be a journalist…university first or GIJ first? I got advice from career counsellors and finally settled on reading English first then top up with a journalism course later.
m: What kind of journalist do you want to be? Radio, Tv, Print or…?
F: I want to be an all round journalist.
m: Who is your role model in the media industry?
F: Well, in terms of presentation and delivery, I have Nana Aba (TV3) and Gifty Anti (GTV). Also, Joycelyn of Viasat 1 because of how she carries herself.
m: Who is your favourite male presenter?
F: I will go for Kafui Dei of “Who Wants To Be Rich?”. I like his command over the English language. I like his composure on set too. Looking at his background.
m: Apart from journalism, is there any other thing you are interested in?
F: I love acting and MCing. I would love to own a business that deals more with hair dressing, nails, make ups and the likes.
m: Who is your best friend?
F: My cousin, Naomi Appiah is my best friend. She is studying Nursing in USA now thus we stay in-touch via the social networks.
m: Social networks. Which of them do you use actively?
F: Facebook was my favourite till I discovered whatsapp. Now I use whatsapp more because it is faster and allows you to interact more effectively. I only joined Twitter just to have a feel of what it is all about but never found anything interesting thus I am not active on Twitter.
m: When you are not studying, rehearsing, or working for the Hall, what do you do?
F: Aside everything else, I watch lots of movies. I usually watch series and good movies all night till day break and won’t get tired. I also enjoy swimming with my girls girls.
m: Girls girls…who are they? You’ve formed a group on campus?
F: [laughs] They are my former Aburi Girls mates. It is not really a group…we were not even in the same class but in senior high school. We were all new to the KNUST campus thus we had to stay together and do things together in first year. At the beginning people were saying we are anti-so because we sat together and did everything together. In the group I have Freda Acquah, Aso Acquah, Harriet Clayman, Magdalene Baidoo, Jenivieve Naa Ayele, all in Evandi Hostel, KNUST.
m: Do you have male friends?
F: Well I do but am usually with my girls because I attended a single sex school. Before entering university, I didn’t have any male friend.
m: Did you ever have an issue with a guy who tried to lure you as a fresher?
F: Hmmm…I had problems with guys in first year. I remember my sister used to call virtually every day to remind me not to mind the boys ooo….don’t mind them…[laughs] but honestly I didn’t take her advice…[laughs] I felt she didn’t want me to experience or enjoy campus. I felt too much under pressure but not until I became a victim to the ‘September rush’ on campus. I wish I listened to my sister. I dated someone in the first semester and things went bad – the relationship didn’t last for even a semester.
m: Should we say it is because of that experience in Semester 1 that has gotten you involved in several activities on campus now?
F: Exactly. You know, after that issue, I just decided to get myself busy with several activities so I do not end up in another relationship. I just didn’t want anybody to like me on campus. I think I was so young and naive.
m: It appears to be a trend that most female freshers get into such situations but no platform exist for continuing students to share their experiences with freshers. Isn’t that a worrying trend?
F: I think freshers get to know but freshers don’t listen – I didn’t listen to my sister. You hear a whole lot of stories about universities when you are in SHS -there is freedom, there is this, there is that so you are actually anxious to have the experience. The last thing you would want to hear is someone trying to prevent you from having fun. Honestly, I think it is always good to let them know but allow them to also realise it for themselves – people learn better from experience [laughs]. When I discovered the truth, nobody had to tell me to wake up
m: What will you tell a female fresher who comes to you for advice concerning issues with dating on campus?
F: I think the only advice I will give is for them to just focus on the academics in first year. You know it is quiet difficult trying to better your average than maintaining it. Strive to reach high in academics first before you think of something else after first year.
m: But when your roommates’ boyfriends are always visiting, you may feel lonely and thus also go for a boyfriend.
F: Honestly, that is one of the reasons why I became a victim in first year. I tried to also get one for myself but I have learnt it is best to ignore the pressure and focus on your academics first.
m: Final year Semester 8. Are you dating now?
F: Yes. I am in a relationship now. You know, university boys are not ready to settle at all…they are nowhere near the word ‘ready’. So if you want to be serious, get serious.
m: What is your favourite colour?
F: I like purple.
m: Your favourite wear.
F: Ammm anything African but I dress for the occasion and the time of the day. I love fashion.
m: What makes you happy on campus?
F: Hanging out with my girls girls.
m: What is your favourite movie?
F: Ammm I have a lot of favourite movies…it will be difficult to point at one. I hate local movies. I don’t like to say this but I don’t like them at all…Ghallywood and Nollywood. I am a huge fan of Hindi movies.
m: Who is your favourite actor and actress?
F: Favourite actor is Eddy Murphy and favourite actress is Sandra Bullock.
m: Do you enjoy local music?
F: Yes. I think now they are doing well. My favourite local musician is Irene Lorgan. She is sensational.
m: How did you get into radio broadcasting, Focus FM to be precise?
F: I used to do my little ‘sign-ins’ and ‘sign-outs’ when I was young so my family actually knew I was interested in journalism thus my sister influenced me to join the Focus FM radio school. Focus FM trained me very well and I believe I have improved overtime. I have had internships at Kessben FM and TV3, where I met Nana Aba. I have worked with people associated with Viasat 1 too.
m: Which campus production houses have you worked with so far?
F: I am officially with Springverve Productions but my first production on campus was “His Birth in the 21st Century” by JNissi Productions. I was privileged to work with professionals like Naa Ashorkor and Senanu.
m: Which of the performances is your favourite so far?
F: My favourite is “When Lust Kisses Love” by Springverve because we had a lot of fun and I believe that live performance made me very popular on campus. The performance had music and the rehearsals were very lovely and massive.
m: When was your first time on stage as an M.C.?
F: Amm that was Face of Indece 2012. But I had the experience in church (CCC) because I used to host programs for the youth.
m: Did you experience stage fright that time?
F: Honestly, yes. I was scared of making a mistake or messing up because to me, Face of Indece is the biggest show on campus. It attracts not only students but professionals among others. I also had to work with a professional from 4syte TV so I was so scared. But I think it was ok.
m: You are now more of a star on campus, you know that?
F: Well I will say I am rather famous on campus but not with money [laughs]. These many productions or works don’t really come with money but experiences. I am happy for the fame and I look forward to be called back to host programmes on campus after my graduation.
m: Let’s move away a little to the role you play in Africa Hall. You are currently the Entertainment Chairperson for Africa Hall. How was the journey?
F: Well, in SHS I was the Entertainment prefect and when I came to Africa Hall I was very much involved in Hall Week activities. In third year, I joined the Entertainment Committee of Africa Hall. Interestingly, Audrey Agyekum actually handed over to me in Aburi Girls High School as Entertainment Prefect and also handed over to be me in Africa Hall as Entertainment Chairperson. It wasn’t easy at all with the campaign and all that because I wasn’t staying in the Hall. Yes I was famous generally but not all the residents in the Hall really knew me because majority were first year students.
m: You were famous even before your election as the Entertainment Chairperson of Africa Hall. Why didn’t you go for any of the SRC positions so you could serve a bigger group of students?
F: Well, I am not into these campus political things and even with Africa Hall, I had to reconsider it several times before I stepped forward. I had the experience and exposure thus had to help my Hall. Furthermore, Africa Hall residents over the years had been complaining about boring Hall Weeks and all that you know. I had to come out to help and encourage people to participate. People recommended me to the Hall Tutor and Warden and I received calls from people to go for the position.
m: What have you delivered to Africa Hall affiliates so far as Entertainment Chairperson?
F: I believe a lot of residents will testify that there has been a better atmosphere as far as entertainment within the Hall is concerned. Earlier, freshers usually left the Hall to friends in other Halls and return in the evening because they complained that the Hall was so boring but the situation was different for the freshers of the 2012/2013 Academic Year. We secured sponsorship deal with Airtel and they gave us P.A. systems among others for at least the first week of the freshers in the Hall. They had free Airtel SIM cards plus call credits and music playing in the Hall during the first three days. We also organised a film show on a wide screen for residents. We had variety nights…entertained freshers on their matriculation day and for the first time in Africa Hall, the Conti boys enjoyed the variety show of Africa Hall.
m: What more do you and the other JCRC executives have for Africa Hall?
F: A lot more. We are currently preparing for our 45th Africa Hall Week Celebration and I can assure them of the best in entertainment and fun. I call on them to fully participate in the activities we have planned. They can make or unmake the celebration a success, no matter how well we plan so we call on them to participate fully.
m: Franca. You are in the last semester of your final year now. Do you feel fulfilled so far? Are you ready for ‘after school’ life?
F: Yes. I believe I have accomplished a lot relating to my academics, social life, and passion. I have done well academically. Now I am the host of ‘Community Watch’. One of the big programmes on Focus FM and I believe that is even taken me farther than I imagined. I am so grateful to the people who listen to my programmes and watched me perform live on stage. The feedbacks I get make me feel so much fulfilled. I have succeeded in branding myself. Now, you mention Franca Plange and its quality presentation. You mention Franca Plange and its something entertaining. You mention Franca Plange and it is wow! My father had supported me a lot and kept on telling me to allow the university to pass through me not the other way.
m: It has been lovely interviewing you. Thank you for your time.
F: Thank you too for this opportunity. I am grateful.
