Gertrude Abena Nyarko, a student at the Multimedia Institute of Ghana, has been crowned the winner of the 2025 edition of Asaase 98.5 Kumasi’s Urban Discovery Talent Hunt.
For the competition, which seeks to unearth and nurture young broadcasting talents, seven finalists competed in categories including news presentation, entertainment hosting and sports analysis.
In a keenly contested grand finale on Thursday (13 March), Gertrude emerged victorious with 59.6 percentage points, followed closely by Michael Opoku (58 points) and Papa Yaw Gyamfi (54 points).
Speaking after the judges declared her the winner, she expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity, crediting her success to divine grace and the support of well-wishers.
“I’m truly grateful to God for this victory. It’s only by His grace that I won. I also want to sincerely thank everyone who voted for me. My goal is to support young talents and build a strong reputation in the media industry.
“I am passionate about everything media-related and look forward to being fully involved in it.
“I deeply appreciate Asaase Broadcasting Company for creating this incredible opportunity. They should continue this initiative because it has been a tremendous help to me and many others,” she said.
Since its inception in 2022, the Urban Discovery Talent Hunt has served as a launchpad for young talents eager to break into the broadcasting industry.
The 2025 edition saw over 17 participants in the preliminary stages, with only seven making it to the final. Contestants displayed their communication and presentation skills on national issues, showcasing their potential for future media careers.
The programmes manager of Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Naa Klordey Fritzal Abban, praised the contestants for their dedication and urged young people to stay committed to their passion.
“So, you know that you and I work in a space where there are lots of talents, but don’t even get the opportunity to work in media spaces or media houses. I asked myself: what can I do to help the younger generation?
“Then I thought about Urban Discovery, because we are an urban radio station.
“And then to discover a new talent, unearthing new talent. So, we put the two names together – Urban Discovery – and it’s become a good brand name. If you mention Urban Discovery, everybody connects it to Asaase Radio.
“Young people getting the opportunity to show their skills and their talents and also impacting positively in the space where we find ourselves and then the nation as a whole,” she said.
She reaffirmed Asaase Broadcasting Company’s commitment to developing media talents, noting that Urban Discovery was designed to bridge the gap between theory and professional practice in broadcasting.
One of the judges at the event, Chris Obeng Watson, who also manages JP Service Station in Asokwa, Kumasi, commended Asaase Radio for the initiative, stressing the importance of mentorship in grooming young talents.
“I have realised that the youth are eager to showcase their talents and, with the right guidance, they can become the best. The winner, Gertrude, is proof of this,” he said.
Obeng Watson encouraged the finalists to continue honing their craft, as the competition on Thursday was just the beginning of their media journey, he said.
Reporting for Asaase News by Lordina Agyemang Duah, Kumasi
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