The whereabouts of Radio Africa Group chief executive officer Patrick Quarcoo is the talk in the media industry. Word has it that he recorded a statement with police over the Sh2.8 billion media advertising scandal.
Patrick Quarcoo, popularly known as PQ, is a Ghanaian Kenya-based serial entrepreneur.
Quarcoo, a Ghanaian popularly known as PQ booked a date with the investigators after it emerged that a phony company received part of the loot from the Government Advertising Agency on behalf of Radio Africa Group.
He is the founder and CEO of Radio Africa Group, which is an umbrella of among Kenya’s leading media channels on print, digital, TV and radio. It’s flagship is Classic FM that has slowly but surely cannibalised Kiss FM also owned by Radio Africa that was one time the leader in the game in Kenya but could not keep up with the vulgarity that has become the selling point of radio stations to un-educationed audiences.
Great stopping by Radio Africa Group today. Thanks for the terrific hospitality CEO Patrick Quarcoo and the entire team! pic.twitter.com/w8klX1yAXj
— Ambassador Bob Godec (@BobGodec) September 19, 2017
Companies known as The Star Publications Ltd received about Sh21 million between November 2017 and June this year.
The GAA scandal has seen former ICT permanent secretary Sammy Itemere, former head of the GAA Dennis Chebitwey and administrative secretary Dickson Nyandinga charged in court.
Others are the GAA chief media buyer Susan Akinyi and Tabitha Nyaboke.
They all denied the charges and were released on bond.
Akinyi and Nyaboke have also appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi and denied three counts of abuse of office, aiding the commission of felony and conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to the law.
Akinyi was also charged with abuse of office contrary to the law.
In 2014 Radio Africa Group owners offloaded 49% of their stake to South Africa’s leading media group, Times Media Group (TMG). This gave the SA media giant a good entry point into Kenya’s bustling media sector. TMG was founded by Tokyo Sexwale and was formerly known as Johnnic Communications, then Avusa which means “to rouse feelings, to revive and evokes action.”
The means that RAL is still majorly owned by the previous owners.